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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — 30 May-5 June 2007


Langila

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 30 May-5 June 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, 30 May-5 June 2007. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (30 May-5 June 2007)

Langila

Papua New Guinea

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


RVO reported that the emission of ash clouds from Langila's Crater 2 continued during 22 May-1 June and were occasionally accompanied by roaring noises. Two large explosions on 30 May produced ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 5.3 km (17,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW. Ash plumes rose to altitudes of 3.3-4.3 km (10,800-14,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW during 22 May-1 June. Ashfall was reported from Kilenge Catholic Mission (about 10 km NW of the volcano) and surrounding areas during the last few days of May and 1 June. Incandescence was visible on 29 and 31 May. Crater 3 was quiet. Based on observations of satellite imagery and information from RVO, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. on 3 June and drifted W.

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.

Sources: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO), Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)