Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 18-06
Friday, May 5, 2006, 11:30 KDT (22:30 UTC on May 4)

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 3,5 km (11,470 ft) ASL this week. Big thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was observed during the periods of visibility of the volcano. Ash deposits extending about 30 km (~19 mi) to west-southwest from the volcano were noted on May 4. 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. Thermal anomaly was 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


Growth of the lava dome continues. An extrusive eruption occurs at the lava dome. Hot avalanche was observed on May 04. There is an explosive eruption of the volcano possibly during next four weeks.

Seismic activity was above background levels on April 30 - May 3 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.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:

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

Sergey Senykov, 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