"A generally low level of activity prevailed during April. However, Crater 2 produced some discrete Vulcanian explosions (table 1). The explosion on the 18th was witnessed from an aircraft about 70 km away. The eruption cloud rose steadily for about 15 minutes, then began spreading at its top to become mushroom-shaped. Weak emissions of grey ash clouds were also reported on 8, 14, 20, 21, and 29 April. Crater 3 was quiet for most of the month, releasing weak white vapour, although grey emissions were reported on 21 and 26 April. On the 30th a Vulcanian explosion sent ash and vapour to a height of about 3 km. Seismic activity was generally at a low level, with occasional explosion earthquakes."

Table 1. Heights of Vulcanian explosion columns above Crater 2 at Langila, April 1983.

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.