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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — April 1994


Langila

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 19, no. 4 (April 1994)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.

Langila (Papua New Guinea) Fine ashfall after one explosion; red glow seen and explosion noises heard

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1994. Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 19:4. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199404-252010



Langila

Papua New Guinea

5.525°S, 148.42°E; summit elev. 1330 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


"Observations were conducted during 1-17 and 23-27 April. The level of activity was slightly lower than in March. Emissions from Crater 2 consisted mainly of thin-to-moderate white-grey vapour-and-ash clouds. Explosion noises were heard on 4, 5, and 17 April, and weak rumbling noises were heard during 23-27 April. The explosion on 4 April produced a thick ash column that rose a few hundred metres above the crater and resulted in fine ashfall on the NW side of the volcano. Steady weak red glow was observed on 23-24 April. Crater 3 released emissions of thin white vapour with occasional low ash content. Seismic activity was at a low level."

Geological Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite basaltic-andesitic cones on the lower E flank of the extinct Talawe volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An extensive lava field reaches the coast on the N and NE sides of Langila. Frequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have been recorded since the 19th century from three active craters at the summit. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.

Information Contacts: I. Itikarai, and C. McKee, RVO.