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Blup Blup

Stratovolcano in Papua New Guinea

Key Facts

Elevation

402 m (1,319 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

-3.507°, 144.605°

Region

Bismarck Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The 2 x 3. 5 km forested island of Blup Blup contains lava flows with well-defined flow fronts. Weak thermal areas are located on the W and N coasts.

Most eruptive activity at the andesitic-dacitic volcano originated from a summit crater about 800 m in diameter, although there may be a lava dome on a ridge to the W and a small satellite cone along the SW coast. Reports of eruptions in 1616 and 1830 are erroneous, but there may have been eruptions during the Holocene (Johnson, 1990 p. c.

). Blocks from a submarine debris avalanche lie to the NE of the island.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskModerate
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Silica Content
Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Holocene
Evidence
Evidence Credible

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Normal
No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity
The Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

  • Smithsonian ID: 251001
  • Evidence: Evidence Credible
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The roughly 3.5-km-wide Blup Blup is north of the main Papua New Guinea island. The summit crater near the center of the island is visible in this August 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top). A small flank cone is on the SW coast and a submarine debris avalanche deposit is to the NE.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

Basic Information

This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.