Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic
Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 06-06
Friday, February 10, 2006, 10:30 KST
(22:30 UTC on February 09)
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: 54o03'N, 159o27'E; Elevation 1,486
m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE: ORANGE
Seismic data and satellite observations indicated that the
eruption of the volcano with ash explosions from the summit crater continues.
Ash explosions up to 6 km (or 19,700 ft.) ASL are possible.
Big thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was noted during
last week. Numerous ash plumes raising up to 4 km (or 13,120 ft.) ASL and
extending about 130-200 km (80.6-124 mi) to the east, south-east and north-east
from the volcano were observed on satellite images. The activity of the volcano
could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.
SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: 56o38'N, 161o19'E; Elevation 3,283
m, the dome elevation ~2,500 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE: YELLOW
Growth of the lava dome continues. A weak fumarolic activity
and small thermal anomaly were observed during last week. Seismic activity did
not exceed background levels last week but ash explosions up to 6 km (19,700
ft.) ASL could occur at any time.
BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55o58'N, 160o36'E; Elevation 2,895
m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE: 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. Fumarolic activity of the lava dome and small thermal
anomaly were noted during last week. There are no indications that an explosive
eruption is imminent.
EBEKO VOLCANO, Paramushir Island, Northern Kurile:
50o41'N, 156o01'E; Elevation 1,156 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE:
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 weak
smell of sulphuretted hydrogen and chlorine gas was noted at Severo-Kurilsk on
February 05 and 07. The danger of sudden ash explosions up to 3 km (9,840 ft.)
ASL exists.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE
CONTACT:
The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) is a
non-commercial cooperative program of the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO, USA),
the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IVS) FED RAS and the Kamchatkan
Branch of Geophysical Service(KB GS) RAS (Russia). KVERT staff is available in
the office from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM (KST or KDT) and by phone during the
evenings. KVERT uses daily satellite imagery, information from remote scientific
observation stations, real-time seismic data for 10 volcanoes, and other
information to monitor activity at Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile
Volcanoes.