Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — July 1998
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 23, no. 7 (July 1998)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.
Langila (Papua New Guinea) Gas and ash emissions relatively quiet during May and June
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 1998. Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 23:7. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199807-252010
Langila
Papua New Guinea
5.525°S, 148.42°E; summit elev. 1330 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Langila remained comparatively quiet during May and June. Direct radio communication to RVO had been a persistent problem, but reports were relayed by ships operating in the area.
Crater 2 continued weak-to-moderate emissions of white vapor during both months. During 9, 13, 17, and 19-21 May a blue vapor accompanied the usual white vapor. Occasional gray ash emissions were observed on 10 May, and 16, 22-24, 27, 29-30 June. Weak glow from the crater was seen on the nights of 2 and 3 May, and 16 and 29 June.
Crater 3 only released weak white fumarolic vapors. The seismograph remained non-operational during May and June.
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.
