RVO: Tavurvur activity low

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 17th April 2013

 By ELIZABETH VUVU

ONGOING roaring and rumbling noises currently being heard from Mt Tavurvur in East New Britain are not likely to generate any seismic activity unlike other times in the past, according to the Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO).

In a situation report released yesterday, RVO said the roaring and rumbling noises was a good indication that the status of the volcano may change at short notice.

Seismicity was very low and there were no volcano-related low frequency earthquakes. 

No high frequency volcano-tectonic earthquakes were recorded inside the caldera either however Rabaul Town was jolted on Sunday at about 11.54pm by the 4.3 magnitude earthquake.

The earthquake was located 13km northeast of Rabaul caldera at 10-15km depth. 

It was reported that the earthquake triggered a swarm of 30-40 events that lasted about three hours.

RVO said these earthquakes were located slightly outside the zone of the so-called northeast earthquakes linked to activity at Mt Tavurvur.

Ground deformation measurements fluctuated within background noise with the long-term inflationary trend still being maintained.

RVO said the activity at Mt Tavurvur was expected to remain low, however the continuing long-term inflationary trend, the open vent system and the roaring and rumbling noises was a good indication that the status of the volcano may change at short notice.

Furthermore, while the earthquakes mentioned have been isolated from the normal northeast earthquakes that have been discussed periodically in these bulletins, it was possible their proximity to the latter may have slight influence on the volcanic system.