Ulawun (also locally known as the "father" //commemt: Bamus being the "son") is a symmetrical large stratovolcano on New Britain Island. It rises majestically above the north coast of New Britain across a low saddle NE of Bamus volcano, the South Son.
Ulawun is one Papua New Guinea's most active and most dangerous volcanoes. Rising to 2334 m, it is also the highest of the 1000 km long chain of the Bismarck volcanic arc which stretches from Rabaul volcano in the East to Wewak in the west and contains no less than 21 active volcanoes.
Eruptions from Ulawun
Historical records from Ulawun reach relatively far back. The historic account of an eruption of Ulawun volcano was by the English discoverer William Dampier (1651-1715) in 1700. However, lack of activity or further reports by explorers led to a large gap of informatio until, 178 years later, the Australian businessman Wilfred Powell reported activity in 1878.
The largest eruptions in historic times were in 1915, 1970, and 1980. The eruption in 1915 deposited 10 cm of ash in Toriu, 50 km northeast of the volcano. The eruption of 1970 produced nuees ardentes (pyroclastic flows) and lava flows.
A major eruption in 1980 produced an eruption column rising to 60,000 ft (ca. 20 km) and produced pyroclastic flows which swept all flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of 20 square km.
The last larger eruptions devastated the flanks of Ulawun, produced large andesitic lava flows and greatly modified the summit crater.
Typical smaller eruptions from Ulawun range from strombolian-type explosions to lava dome growth with associated small ash explosions and small nuées ardentes.
stratovolcano 2334 m / 7,657 ft
New Britain, Papua New Guinea, -5.05°S / 151.33°E
Current status:
normal or dormant (1 out of 5)|
ReportsUlawun volcano booksUlawun volcano eruptions:
2010-2011 (ongoing), 2000-08, 1994, 1993, 1989, 1985, 1984-85, 1984, 1983-84, 1980, 1978, 1973, 1970, 1967, 1963, 1960-62, 1958, 1951?, 1941, 1937?, 1927, 1919, 1918, 1915, 1898, 1878, 1700
Typical eruption style:explosive, effusive lava dome growth
Last earthquakes nearbyLatest satellite images


Satellite image of Ulawun volcano (c)Google
Ulawun volcano news
Ulawun volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: MINOR VA EMISSION TO FL090 EXT TO WSW LAST OBS 05/0350Z.
Tuesday Sep 05, 2017 14:15 PM |

Satellite image of Ulawun volcano on 5 Sep 2017
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report:
FVAU0295 at 14:00 UTC, 05/09/17 from ADRM
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20170905/1400Z
VAAC: DARWIN
VOLCANO: ULAWUN 252120
PSN: S0503 E15120
AREA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SUMMIT ELEV: 2334M
ADVISORY NR: 2017/77
INFO SOURCE: HIMAWARI-8
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: ORANGE
ERUPTION DETAILS: MINOR VA EMISSION TO FL090 EXT TO WSW LAST
OBS 05/0350Z.
OBS VA DTG: 05/1400Z
OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL090 S0451 E15100 - S0506 E15057 - S0503
E15121 - S0501 E15121 MOV W 10KT
FCST VA CLD +6 HR: 05/2000Z SFC/FL090 S0443 E15046 - S0504
E15041 - S0504 E15121 - S0501 E15121
FCST VA CLD +12 HR: 06/0200Z SFC/FL090 S0443 E15046 - S0505
E15042 - S0504 E15121 - S0501 E15121
FCST VA CLD +18 HR: 06/0800Z SFC/FL090 S0442 E15046 - S0505
E15041 - S0504 E15121 - S0502 E15121
RMK: VA CURRENTLY NOT DISCERNIBLE ON SAT IMG DUE TO MET
CLOUD, HOWEVER STILL EXPECTED IN AREA. HEIGHT AND MOVEMENT
BASED ON SAT IMAGERY AND MODEL GUIDANCE.
NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 20170905/2000Z
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