Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 42-06
Friday, September 15, 2006, 10:30 KDT (21:30 UTC on September 14)
 
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
 
CURRENT CHANGES IN COLOR CODE:
KARYMSKY IS NOW AT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE
ORANGE.
 
KARYMSKY VOLCANO: 54003'N, 159027'E; Elevation 1,486 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS ORANGE
PREVIOUS LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW
.
 
Seismic data and satellite observations indicated that a moderate ash eruption of the volcano 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.

According to seismic data, a number of weak local shallow earthquakes was 50-100 per day. A thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was noted on September 8-10 and 12. An ash plume extending about 140 km to the south-east from the volcano was noted at satellite image on September 13.
 
BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55058'N, 160036'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.
 
Seismic data and satellite observations indicated that growth of the lava dome continues. The activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.

Several weak shallow earthquakes were registered this week. A fumarolic activity of the lava dome was noted during periods of visibility of the volcano. A thermal anomaly over the lava dome was noted on September 07-09 and 12. Clouds obscured the volcano in the other days.
 
SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: 56038'N, 161019'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. Ash explosions up to 6 km (19,700 ft.) ASL could occur at any time. The activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.
 
Seismic activity was at background levels all week. Several weak earthquakes were registered at the volcano last week. A fumarolic activity of the lava dome was observed during 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
 
Svetlana Droznina, 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/