Crater 3 remained quiet during September. Moderate Vulcanian activity at Crater 2 continued until 14 September; after then the activity declined to weak emissions of thin, white vapor. Emissions from Crater 2 produced thin white to thick gray vapor-and-ash clouds, which rose to a few hundred meters above the crater rim. Ash-laden emissions were commonly accompanied by low rumbling sounds. On 4-6, 10, and 13-14 September, strong explosions resulted in light ashfall on populated areas to the NW. Weak, steady crater glows were observed on most nights before 14 September. The Langila seismographs were inoperative during September.

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: Chris McKee and Ben Talai, RVO.