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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — December 1998


Langila

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 23, no. 12 (December 1998)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.

Langila (Papua New Guinea) Ongoing Vulcanian eruption at Crater 2

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1998. Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 23:12. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199812-252010



Langila

Papua New Guinea

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


The ongoing Vulcanian eruption at Crater 2 continued throughout November and December. Emissions consisted chiefly of gray ash clouds that drifted SW, resulting in fine ashfall. On 2 November a significant ash column was ejected forcefully up to ~2 km above the crater. Emissions during November were sometimes accompanied by roaring and rumbling sounds. No night glow was reported.

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: Herman Patia, RVO.