Bam
Stratovolcano in Papua New Guinea
Key Facts
Elevation
685 m (2,247 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-3.613°, 144.818°
Region
Bismarck Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The 1. 6 x 2. 4 km island of Bam is the summit of a mostly submerged volcano in the Schouten Islands off the coast of New Guinea, ~40 km NNE of the mouth of the Sepik River.
A steep-walled summit crater that is 300 m wide and 180 m deep is the source of recent eruptions, which have kept the upper half of the cone sparsely vegetated. A NE-trending landslide scarp extends across the upper part of the andesitic volcano from the SW coast, and a large submarine debris-avalanche deposits lies to the S and SW. The younger summit cone partially buries the eastern side of the collapse scarp.
A recent lava platform on the N flank supports the small island's only villages. Eruptions recorded since 1872 have all consisted of small-to-moderate explosive activity from the summit crater.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 66 years ago | Historical | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 251010
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The small 2.4 x 1.6 km island of Bam, seen here from the S, is the summit of a mostly submerged volcano that is one of the more active in Papua New Guinea. A 300-m-wide and 180-m-deep summit crater is source of recent eruptions, which have resulted in the sparsely-vegetated area. A younger cone (center) formed inside a SE-facing landslide scarp. Eruptions recorded since 1872 involved small-to-moderate explosive activity from the summit crater.
Photo by Wally Johnson, 1970 (Australia Bureau of Mineral Resources).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.