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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — July 1980


Langila

Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, vol. 5, no. 7 (July 1980)
Managing Editor: David Squires.

Langila (Papua New Guinea) Vulcanian explosions and glow

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1980. Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) (Squires, D., ed.). Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, 5:7. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.SEAN198007-252010



Langila

Papua New Guinea

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


"Vulcanian explosions continued in July from the active vent at Crater 3, and crater glow was seen on several nights. Eruption clouds were usually brown/grey, but otherwise emissions were white and rarely blue. Emissions from Crater 2 were usually white, but possible ash contents in the emissions were reported on several days. Weak glow from Crater 2 was reportedly observed on one occasion. The level of seismic activity remained steady, and consisted of moderate-amplitude volcanic earthquakes, probably of explosion origin."

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: C. McKee, RVO.