Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 25-06
Friday, May 19, 2006, 11:00 KDT (22:00 UTC on May 18)

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:
EBECO, CHIKURACHKI and ALAID: GREEN

KARYMSKY VOLCANO: 54°03'N, 159°27'E; Elevation 1,486 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS 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 8 km (or 26,200 ft.) ASL are possible.

Eruptive activity at the volcano continues. According to seismic data, ash plumes rose up to 8.0 km (26,200 ft) ASL this week. Pilots reported an ash plume rose up to 6.1 km (20,000 ft.) ASL and extended to the north-east on May 12. Big thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was observed this week. Ash plumes extended for about 50 km (31 mi) mainly to south and north-east from the volcano. The activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.

SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: 56°38'N, 161°19'E;
Elevation 3,283 m, the dome elevation ~2,500 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.

Growth of the lava dome continues. Thermal anomaly and moderate gas-steam plumes were observed at 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: 55°58'N, 160°36'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.

Seismic activity did not exceed background levels. Two shallow earthquakes were recorded on May 15. A thermal anomaly was noted at the volcano on May 16-18. 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.