Langila was relatively quiet throughout January. Crater 2 generally released weak to moderate emissions of white vapor, but on 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, and 21 January, weak pale-gray ash was emitted. Crater 3's activity consisted of gentle fumarolic emissions. Both craters were noiseless throughout the month and no glow was observed. The seismograph remained out of order.

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: Ben Talai, RVO.