Rare volcanic ash emission detected from submarine volcano in Central Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea

Darwin VAAC is reporting a rare volcanic ash emission from a submarine volcano in the Bismarck Sea Volcanic Province, Papua New Guinea, since Monday, May 11, 2026. By Wednesday, May 13, ash was rising to about 4 km (13 000 feet) above sea level, while satellite imagery showed water discoloration near the advisory area. Meteorological cloud partly obscured the ash in the latest imagery, but Himawari-9 observations and model guidance continued to support the advisory.

Himawari-9 satellite imagery at 04:30 UTC on May 12, 2026, showing ash rising from a rare submarine volcanic eruption in the Central Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea, along with visible water discoloration near the eruption site. Credit: JMA/Himawari-9, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers

The latest advisory, issued at 04:20 UTC on May 13, placed the ash emission source elevation 1 300 m (4 265 feet) below mean sea level at coordinates 3°02′S, 147°47′E.

This places the volcano in the Bismarck Sea Volcanic Province, about 125 km (78 miles) southeast of Lorengau, Manus Province. Darwin VAAC said the ash emission was last observed at 00:40 UTC on May 13, while the 04:00 UTC ash cloud position was estimated from Himawari-9 satellite imagery and model guidance.

Himawari-9 imagery around 04:30 UTC on May 12 showed an ash plume and visible water discoloration feature near the advisory position. The feature appeared beneath broken cloud cover within the marine area identified by Darwin VAAC and was visible in both natural-color and enhanced satellite imagery.

The latest ash cloud was estimated from the surface to about 4 km (13 000 feet) above sea level and was forecast to continue moving northwest at 10 kt. Earlier advisories issued on May 12 described continuous volcanic ash emissions moving west to northwest across the marine area west of the source.

Darwin VAAC said ash was not clearly identifiable in some later satellite frames because of meteorological cloud and steam emissions, but recent Himawari-9 observations and atmospheric model guidance continued to support the advisory. The previous advisory, issued at 22:20 UTC on May 12, described the ash as partially identifiable among cloud and steam emissions.

The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program identifies the Central Bismarck Sea as a submarine volcanic source with a sparse documented eruptive history.

Its geological summary references submarine activity detected in January 1972 through SOFAR signals resembling those associated with known submarine eruptions.

References:

¹ VAA for Central Bismarck Sea – Darwin VAAC – May 11-13, 2026

² Central Bismarck Sea – GVP – Accessed May 13, 2026