Bagana is a lava cone volcano situated in Papua New Guinea at a tectonic subduction zone with an elevation of 1,855.0 meters. According to official records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a confirmed total of 25 recorded eruptions spanning from the 19th century CE through the 21st century CE.
Overview of Recorded Activity
The historical record for Bagana spans across two centuries of reported observations. The earliest recorded eruption in the official dataset began on March 15, 1842 CE. Across the entire collection of 25 confirmed eruptions, Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) values are available for 24 events. The largest recorded eruption in the dataset reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4.0.
The distribution of confirmed eruptions across centuries shows 6 recorded events during the 19th century CE and 19 recorded events during the 20th century CE. Representative records from the Smithsonian database illustrate the range of documented activity, from lower-index observational reports to larger explosive events.
Historical Eruption Timeline Examples
The structured eruption records maintained by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program capture detailed start and end dates alongside observational evidence methods. Below are selected representative records illustrating the historical activity profile of Bagana:
- March 15, 1842 CE: A confirmed eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1.0, documented via reported observations.
- July 15, 1908 CE: A confirmed eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2.0, documented via reported observations.
- December 1, 1948 CE to December 1, 1951 CE: A multi-year confirmed eruption reaching a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.0, documented via reported observations.
- February 29, 1952 CE to October 16, 1952 CE: A confirmed eruption reaching the maximum recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4.0 for this volcano.
- February 28, 2000 CE to March 17, 2026 CE: A confirmed eruption period starting with a modifier before March 17, 2026 CE, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2.0.
The profile for Bagana lists its last known eruption year as 2026 CE, with the latest confirmed structured eruption period extending from February 28, 2000 CE, to March 17, 2026 CE. The data retrieved from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was accessed on August 28, 2026 CE.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bagana located?
Bagana is a lava cone volcano located in Papua New Guinea at a subduction zone, with an elevation of 1,855.0 meters.
How many confirmed eruptions does Bagana have?
The official Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program record confirms 25 eruptions for Bagana.
When did the earliest recorded eruption occur at Bagana?
The earliest recorded eruption in the official dataset began on March 15, 1842 CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Bagana?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Bagana is 4.0.
Image credits
- Umbra Lab, Inc. — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY 4.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.