Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 35-06
Friday, July 28, 2006, 10:25 KDT (21:25 UTC on July 27)

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: 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 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 4.3 km (14,100 ft.) ASL this week. A number of local shallow earthquakes was 50-500 per day. Spasmodic volcanic tremor was registering all week. According to report of volcanologists from Karymsky volcano ash plume rose up to 6.0 km (19,700 ft.) ASL extending to the north-east on July 24. According to satellite data, ash clouds at the height 3-4 km (9,800-13,100 ft.) ASL were observed to the east and north-east at distances 125-250 km from the volcano on July 24 and 25. A thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was observed during this week.

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55°58'N, 160°36'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 did not exceed background levels. A fumarolic activity of the lava dome was observed on July 21 and 24-26. A thermal anomaly was noted at the volcano on July 22-23, 25-27. Volcano was obscured by clouds on other days.

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. 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. A fumarolic activity of the lava dome was observed on July 22, 24-26. A thermal anomaly over the dome was noted on July 23-26. Steam plume extending 9.5 km (31,100 ft.) to the north-east from the volcano was observed on satellite image on July 24.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nataliya Malik, KVERT, IVS FED RAS
E-mail: ecology@kscnet.ru
Tel. (41522) 92993

Svetlana Toloknova, 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 Survey (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: http://emsd.iks.ru/~ssl/Volcanoes/