Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 30-06
Friday, June 23, 2006, 10:45 KDT (21:45 UTC on June 22)
 
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: 54œ03'N, 159œ27'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 6 km (or 19,700 ft.) ASL are possible. The activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.
 
Eruptive activity at the volcano continues. According to seismic data, ash plumes rose up to 4.0 km (13,100 ft) ASL this week. A number of local shallow earthquakes was from 200 till 700 per day. Spasmodic volcanic tremor was registering all days. According to the pilots reports, ash plumes of the volcano rising up to 4.0 km (13,100 ft.) ASL and extending to the north-east on June 19. A thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was observed on June 17, 19 and 22.
 

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55œ58'N, 160œ36'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.
 
According to volcanologists’ experience, growth of the lava dome continues. Lava effusion is probably occurring at the lava dome. The activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.
 
Seismic activity was at background levels on June 19 and did not exceed background levels in the other days. According to video data, weak gas-steam plumes was observed on June 16 and 19-20. A thermal anomaly was noted at the volcano on June 16, 19-20 and 22.
 
SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: 56œ38'N, 161œ19'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. Gas-steam plumes were rising up to 3.0 km (9,800 ft.) ASL from the lava dome summit on June 16 and 19. A thermal anomaly over the dome was noted on June 20. Seismic activity was at background levels last week but ash explosions up to 6 km (19,700 ft.) ASL could occur at any time.
 
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:
 
Olga Girina, KVERT, IVS FED RAS
E-mail:
girina@kscnet.ru
Tel. (41522) 58627
 
Sergey Senyukov, 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.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index.html
Archive of daily information KB GS RAS: ftp://emsd.iks.ru/pub/DATA/RTS/Volcanoes