Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity

INFORMATION RELEASE 09-05

Monday, January 31, 2005, 12:20 KST (00:20 UTC)

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) received the following release via

e-mail from KVERT (Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruptions Response Team). Kamchatkan

Standard Time (KST) is 21 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time. All time and

dates are UTC, if not marked specifically.

Ebeko, Paramushir Island, Northern Kurile 50°41'N, 156°01'E Elevation 1,156

m

CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.

Activity of the volcano has increased. A sudden ash explosion or series of

explosions up to 4 km (16,500 ft.) ASL, are possible at any time.

According to data from observers from Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island,

activity of the volcano continues to increase. On January 30, the new lake

in the south-western part of the active crater disappeared. Intensive

fumarolic activity was noted where the lake was. Probably the heat flow

into the edifice of Ebeko increased and the lake evaporated. Grey-white

gas/steam plumes rose from the main vent (at east-north-eastern side of the

active crater), from five small vents 20 m to the south-east from the main

vent, and from where the lake had been. Fumarolic activity has

intensified.

According to information from the seismic station "Severo-Kurilsk",

individual local shallow earthquakes continue to register.

The last eruption of Ebeko occurred in 1987-1990. Phreatic and

phreatomagmatic eruptions are typical for this volcano. Composition of the

rocks of the volcano varieties from andesibasalts to andesites.

PLEASE CONTACT AVO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS

Olga Girina

Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruptions Response Team,

IVS FED RAS, Piip Blvd, 9

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006 RUSSIA

E-mail: girina@kcs.iks.ru

Tel. (41522) 58627

Svetlana Droznina

Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruptions Response Team,

KEMSD GS RAS, Piip Blvd, 9

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006 RUSSIA

E-mail: ssl@emsd.iks.ru

Tel. (41522) 59523

Tom Murray

Scientist-in-Charge, Alaska Volcano Observatory,

4200 University Drive

Anchorage, Alaska 99508 USA

E-mail: tlmurray@usgs.gov

Tel. 907-786-7497

The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team is a cooperative program of

the Alaska Volcano Observatory (USA), the Institute of Volcanology and

Seismology FED RAS and the Kamchatkan Experimental and Methodical

Seismological Department GS RAS (Russia).