Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic
Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 24-06
Friday, May 12, 2006, 11:00 KDT (22:00
UTC on May 11)
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.
Eruptive activity at the volcano continues. According to
seismic data, ash plumes rose up to 5.3 km (17,400 ft) ASL this week. Big
thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was observed during the periods of
visibility of the volcano. Ash plumes extended mainly to southeast from the
volcano this week. 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 and
moderate gas-steam plumes 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 is now at background levels. Gas and steam
plumes are visible above the volcano. A thermal anomaly was noted at the volcano
on May 10-11. Lava effusion is probably occurring at the lava dome. Although
sudden explosions are possible, the likelihood of a large, ash-producing
eruption has now diminished.
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.