Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic
Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 10-06
Friday, March 10, 2006, 10:40 KST
(22:40 UTC on March 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, 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.
Strombolian activity of the volcano continues. Thermal anomaly
over the volcanic
crater was noted all week. Numerous ash plumes extending up
to 150 km (93 mi) to
south-east and east from the volcano were observed on
satellite images. According to
pilot's report of local airlines ash plume of
Karymsky volcano rose up to 3 km (9,840
ft.) ASL on March 09, 03:32 UTC. 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
Seismic activity did not exceed background levels. 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 the periods of
visibility of the volcano. There are
no indications that an explosive eruption is
imminent.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE
CONTACT:
Tatiana Kozhevnikova, KVERT, KB GS RAS
E-mail:
ssl@emsd.iks.ruTel.
(41522) 59523
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.