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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — 21 February-27 February 2007


Langila

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 21 February-27 February 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, 21 February-27 February 2007. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (21 February-27 February 2007)

Langila

Papua New Guinea

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


On 13 and 14 February, eruptive activity at Langila's Crater 2 consisted of continuous emissions of gray ash plumes. During 15-23 February the emissions became forceful. Plumes rose to an altitude of 2.3 km (7,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE and SW. 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.

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