Kamchatkan and
INFORMATION RELEASE 10-05
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.
SUMMARY OF LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODES:
KLYUCHEVSKOY, SHEVELUCH and KARYMSKY:
BEZYMIANNY: YELLOW
TOLBACHIK PLOSKY, KIZIMEN, AVACHINSKY, KORYAKSKY, MUTNOVSKY
and GORELY:
GREEN
EBECO: YELLOW
ALAID: GREEN
KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO: 56o03'N, 160o 39'E; Elevation 4,750 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS
High seismic activity into the volcano's edifice continues. A bright
thermal anomaly is seen at the summit
of the volcano. Gas-steam explosions
containing small amount of ash occur at
the terminal volcanic crater.
Klyuchevskoy volcano is dangerous for aviation.
KEMSD GS RAS doesn't have a correct method for Klyuchevskoy volcano to
detect ash plumes using seismic data.
Seismic activity was above background levels all week. A great number of
shallow earthquakes were registered
every day. A continuous spasmodic
volcanic tremor increased from A/Tmax=11.84 x10-6 mps on January 27 to
A/Tmax=24.8 x10-6 mps on January 31. From
the high-frequency volcanic tremor was A/Tmax=27.91 x10-6 mps, and possible
ash-gas explosions or lava flow
occurred. About A/Tmax=22 x10-6 mps
registered on February 01-02 were
registered.
According to visual observations from Kozyrevsk, gas-steam plumes rose
up
to 1,000 m above the crater (18,900 ft ASL) and
extended about 100 km (or
62 mi) to the southwest on January 29 and to the
northwest on January 31.
According to visual data from Klyuchi, weak ash falls (ash-particles ~ 1
mm
in size) from Klyuchevskoy volcano occurred on
January 31 at Klyuchi. Ash
falls occurred on the background of snowfalls.
According to the information by observers (Yu. Demyanchuk from
the words of
lumbermen), a mud flow moved into
Kruten'kaya river in 6 km (3.7 mi) from
Klyuchi at
northwestern flank of Klyuchevskoy
volcano. Many big blocks of rocks and
trees moved with this mudflow. A height of front of
the mudflow was a few
meters. Trees were covered with mud up to a height
about 1.5 m. A possible
lava flow came down at Krestovsky channel of the
volcano on January 31.
Clouds obscured the volcano at other times.
According to satellite data from the
anomaly was registered over the
volcano all week. An ash-gas plume more
then 35 km (or 22 mi) extended to the north on
February 01. Gas-steam plume
>100 km (or 62 mi) to the west from the volcano was observed on
January 30.
SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: 56 38'N, 161 19'E; Elevation 3,283 m, the dome
elevation
~2,500 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS
Unrest at the volcano continues. At any time and with little warning,
explosions could produce ash plumes that
could rise as high as 8 km or
26,400 ft. ASL, as well as localized ash fall.
Seismic activity was above background levels this week. Weak shallow
earthquakes at a depth 0-5 km beneath the
active dome occurred.
Intermittent spasmodic volcanic tremor of 0.3-0.5 x10-6 mps was
registered
all week. On 27 January from
tremor 1.3 x10-6 mps was registered. According to
seismic data, probable
ash explosions up to 4-4.5 km (or 13,100-14,800ft)
ASL occurred at
UTC on January 27 and at
weak ash-gas explosions and hot avalanches occurred
all week. According to
visual data, possible hot avalanche moved down from
the dome's top on
January 27. According to visual data, gas-steam plumes rose up to 300 m
above the dome (or 9,200 ft ASL) on January 30. Strong
fumarolic activity
was observed on the whole eastern flank of the
dome this day. Clouds
obscured the volcano at other times. According
to satellite data from the
this week.
KARYMSKY VOLCANO: 54
03'N, 159 27'E; Elevation
1,486 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS
Volcanic activity probably continues. The danger of a sudden explosion
or
series of explosions up to 4 km (or 16,500 ft.) ASL
remains. A local ash
fall within a few tens of km around the volcano is
also possible. There are
no seismic data from January 26 till the present
time.
BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55 58'N, 160 36'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.
Strong volcanic tremor at Klyuchevskoy volcano obscures seismic data for
Bezymianny. According to volcanologists'
experience, a lava flow is
probably now effusing at the dome of
the volcano.
According to visual observations, gas-steam plume up to the 50 m above
the
dome (9,700 ft ASL) extending for 15 km (or 9.3 mi)
to the northwest from
the volcano was observed on January 31. Clouds
obscured the volcano at other times. According
to satellite data from the
31.
EBEKO VOLCANO,
Elevation 1,156 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.
Activity of the volcano continues. A sudden ash explosion or series of
explosions up to 3 km (9,840 ft.) ASL, are possible at any time.
According to visual data by observers from Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir
Island, gas-steam plume rose up to 450 m above the crater (or 5,250 ft
ASL)
and extended for 6 km (or 3.7 mi) to the northeast
on February 01. Clouds
obscured the volcano at other times.
PLEASE CONTACT AVO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Olga Girina
Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruptions Response Team
IVS FED RAS,
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006 RUSSIA
E-mail: girina@kcs.iks.ru
Tel. (41522) 58627
Svetlana Droznina
Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruptions Response Team
KEMSD GS RAS,
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006 RUSSIA
E-mail: ssl@emsd.iks.ru
Tel. (41522) 59523
Tom Murray
Scientist-in-Charge,
E-mail: tlmurray@usgs.gov
Tel. 907-786-7497
The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team is a cooperative program
of
the
Seismology FED RAS and the Kamchatkan Experimental and Methodical
Seismological Department GS RAS (