"Activity in September was similar to that seen in August. However, Crater 2 showed a more intense phase of activity in the second half of the month which included more frequent Vulcanian explosions and periods of continuous ash emission. Light to moderate ashfalls at the observation post 10 km N of the volcano were recorded on 5 days but mostly in the second half of the month. No crater incandescence was seen. Blue vapour emissions from Crater 2 were observed on several days at the beginning and end of the month.

"Crater 3 showed little or no activity apart from weak emissions of white-grey vapour. The greyish color is not considered to be caused by entrained ash but to be an effect of peculiar light conditions [during early-morning periods of observation].

"Seismicity was generally at a low level, although explosion earthquakes were associated with the Vulcanian activity at Crater 2."

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: C. McKee, RVO.