Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic
Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 11-06
Friday, March 17, 2006, 10:50 KST
(22:50 UTC on March 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, 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 during the periods of visibility of the
volcano. About 200-350 local seismic events were
registering every day.
Numerous ash plumes extending from the volcano up to 71 km (44 mi)
to
south-east and ash deposits about 15 km (9.4 mi) to the north-north-east
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 was at 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 was above background levels on March 11, and
one did not exceed background
levels in the others days. Separate shallow
seismic events were registered last two days.
Fumarolic activity of the lava
dome and small thermal anomaly were noted during the periods of
visibility of
the volcano. 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 next week.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE
CONTACT:
Svetlana Droznina, 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.