Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 16-06
Friday, April 21, 2006, 11:00 KDT (22:00 UTC on April 20)

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.

Intermittent eruptive activity at the volcano continues. According to seismic data, ash plumes rose up to 4.2 km (13,800 ft) ASL this week. Big thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was noted during the periods of visibility of the volcano. Numerous ash plumes and ash deposits extending for about 75-135 km (46-84 mi) to the east and south-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 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

Growth of the lava dome continues. A lava block is extruding at the dome summit. A preparation of new explosive eruption occurs.

Seismic activity was above background levels on April 15-16 and 18 and at background levels in the other days. Fumarolic activity and thermal anomaly at the lava dome were noted during the periods of visibility of the volcano. A size of thermal anomaly began to increase.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Olga Girina, KVERT, IVS FED RAS
E-mail:
girina@kscnet.ru
Tel. (41522) 58627

Svetlana Droznina, KVERT, KB GS RAS
E-mail:
ssl@emsd.iks.ru
Tel. (41522) 59523

Tom Murray, Scientist-in-Charge, AVO
E-mail:
tlmurray@usgs.gov
Tel. 907-786-7497

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.

The official web-page of KVERT (the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FED RAS):
http://www.ivs.kscnet/ivs/kvert/index.html
Archive of daily information KB GS RAS: ftp://emsd.iks.ru/pub/DATA/RTS/Volcanoes