"Activity was substantially reduced during February. The main activity at Crater 2 was the release of white vapours and rarely pale grey ash clouds. One Vulcanian explosion was observed on 7 February, producing a thick dark ash cloud that rose about 3 km above the vent. Crater glow was seen on 3 and 5 February. Crater 3 continued its usual activity of weak to moderate white and blue vapour emission. Seismicity was at a low level, with only a few recorded explosion earthquakes."

Further Reference. Johnson, R.W., 1984, Volcanological inspections in Papua New Guinea, February 1984: Geological Survey of Papua New Guinea Report 8/84.

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.