Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile
Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 07-06
Friday, February 17, 2006,
10:30 KST (22:30 UTC on February 16)
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 extending about 6-138 km (3.8-86
mi) to different directions 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 thermal anomaly were observed during the periods of
visibility of the volcano. 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
There was no seismic data 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 all 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 09-10 and 12-15. The danger of sudden ash explosions
up to 3 km (9,840 ft.) ASL exists. According to satellite monitoring, the
volcano was quiet.
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.