Papua New Guinea's Langila volcano emitted ash that rose to an altitude of about 2 400 m (8 000 feet) on August 2 and 3, 2020. The last explosive eruption at this volcano took place in 2018.
According to the Darwin VAAC, the plume of ash rose to 2 400 m (8 000 feet) above sea level and drifted northwest at around 07:50 UTC (17:50 LT) on Sunday, August 2.
The volcano showed continuous activity as another eruption occurred at 19:40 UTC (05:40 LT on Monday, August 3).
Image credit: Sentinel-2, Acquired August 1.
On July 27, incandescence was visible from the volcano as captured by Sentinel-2.
Image credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, Acquired July 27.
Langila on July 17, 2020. Credit: Copernicus EU/Seninel-2
Langila's last eruptive phase lasted from April 2, 2016 to October 30, 2018 (VEI 2). The volcano has only one known VEI 3 eruption -- in 1954.
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 eastern flank of the extinct Talawe volcano.
Talawe is the highest volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long (1.5 miles) crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila volcano was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe.
An extensive lava field reaches the coast on the north 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 of Langila.
The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m (492 feet).
Featured image credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2. Acquired on July 17, 2020
