"A further increase in activity at Crater 2 occurred in April. Weak to strong emissions of white to grey plumes were observed on most days and fine ashfalls occurred [9] km downwind on 2 and 27 April. Weak to moderate explosions and rumblings were heard on most days. Weak red crater glow was seen on ~30% of the nights and ejections of incandescent lava fragments were occasionally observed. Vulcanian explosions were recorded at rates of 0-3/day, but other higher frequency events and periods of harmonic tremor were also recorded."

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: P. Lowenstein, RVO.