Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile
Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE 43-06
Friday, September 22, 2006, 10:30 KDT (21:30 UTC on September 21)
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: 54003'N, 159027'E;
Elevation 1,486 m.
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS ORANGE
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 40-200 per day. A thermal anomaly over the volcanic crater was noted on September
18-19. According to visual data by volcanologists who worked at the area of the volcano, a height of ash explosions from the volcano was about 2,300 km
(7,500 ft)ASL on September 19. Ash plumes extending from 16 to 40 km to the south-west and south-east from the volcano were noted at satellite images on
September 18-19.
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 19-21. 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:
Tatiana Kozhevnikova, KVERT, KB GS
RAS
E-mail: ssl@emsd.iks.ru
Tel.
(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 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.