Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 02-06
Friday, January 13, 2006, 10:30 KST (22:30 UTC on January 12)

SUMMARY OF LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODES:

KAMCHATKA:
KARYMSKY : ORANGE
SHEVELUCH and BEZYMIANNY: YELLOW
KLYUCHEVSKOY, TOLBACHIK PLOSKY, KIZIMEN, AVACHINSKY, KORYAKSKY, MUTNOVSKY and GORELY: GREEN

NORTHERN KURILE:
EBEKO: YELLOW
CHIKURACHKI and ALAID: GREEN

KARYMSKY VOLCANO: 54°03'N, 159°27'E; Elevation 1,486 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS ORANGE.

Seismic activity indicated that the eruption of the volcano with ash explosions from the summit crater continues. Ash explosions up to 6 km (or 26,300 ft.) ASL are possible.

According to seismic data, possible seven ash plumes up to 3.3-4.0 km (10,800-13,100 ft.) ASL occurred at the volcano on January 9-12. Thermal anomaly over the dome was noted on January 6-11. A large size of thermal anomaly indicate probably a Strombolian activity at the crater of the volcano. Ash plumes extending 40-60 km to the south and 45-66 km to the south-south-west from the volcano were registered on January 9 and 12, respectively. The volcano was obscured by clouds on the other time.

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 YELLOW.

Growth of the lava dome continues. Seismic activity did not exceed background levels all week but ash explosions up to 6 km (19,600 ft.) ASL could occur at any time.

Seismic activity of the lava dome continues. According to visual observations, a weak fumarolic activity was noted on January 6-8 and 11. The volcano was obscured by clouds on the other time. Thermal anomaly over the lava dome was noted on January 7-12.

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55°58'N, 160°36'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.

Seismic activity did not exceed background levels all week. Based on past experience with Bezymianny, a viscous lava flow is probably active at the lava dome summit. There are no indications that an explosive eruption is imminent.

Fumarolic activity of the lava dome was noted on January 11-12. The volcano was obscured by clouds on the other time. Thermal anomaly at the lava dome was registered on January 7-12.

EBEKO VOLCANO, Paramushir Island, Northern Kurile:
50°41'N, 156°01'E Elevation 1,156 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.

Ebeko volcano is not monitored with seismic instruments. KVERT uses satellite monitoring and receives occasional visual observations from Paramushir Island. Moderate fumarolic activity of the volcano continues. A very strong smell of sulphuretted hydrogen and chlorine gas was noted at Severo-Kurilsk on January 5-7. The danger of sudden ash explosions up to 3 km (9,840 ft.) ASL exists.