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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — 24 January-30 January 2007


Langila

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 January-30 January 2007
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2007. Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 24 January-30 January 2007. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (24 January-30 January 2007)

Langila

Papua New Guinea

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


During 16-26 January, eruptive activity at Langila's Crater 2 consisted of continuous emissions of gray ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 2.3 km (7,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE and NE. Fine ash fell on the flanks. Occasional roaring noises were heard accompanying emissions. Incandescence was observed at the summit.

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.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)