Kamchatkan and Northern Kurile Volcanic Activity
INFORMATION RELEASE
48-06
Friday, October 27, 2006, 10:40 KDT (21:40 UTC on October 26)
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, visual and satellite data indicated that an eruptive activity of
the volcano increased last week. 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
increased to 350-550 per day. Possibly, ash explosions rose up to 5.0 km (16,400
ft) ASL on October 24, and up to 2.5-4.5 km (11,800 ft) ASL in the other days of
this week. Series of ash bursts up to ~ 2.0 km (6,600 ft) ASL were observed
IVS's staff on October 25. Ash plumes extended from the volcano about 100 km (62
mi) to the east. According to satellite data, a big thermal anomaly over the
volcanic crater was noted on October 19-24; ash plumes extended from the volcano
for about 200 km (124 mi) to north-east on October 20, and 20-70 km (12-44 mi)
to the north-east and south-east on October 22-24. Clouds obscured the volcano
in the other days.
BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: 55°58'N, 160°36'E; Elevation 2,895 m
CURRENT LEVEL
OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW.
Growth of the lava dome continues. The activity of the volcano could affect
low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.
Seismic activity was at background levels on October 20, 22-24, and did not
exceed background levels in the other days. According to visual and video data,
gas-steam (aerosol) plumes rose from the crater at the dome's top up to 3.6-4.5
km (or 11,800-14,800 ft) ASL and extended from the dome to the east and
south-east on October 22-23. A thermal anomaly over the dome was noted on
October 20-22 and 24-25. Clouds obscured the volcano in the 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. 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 on October 19 and 21-23, and did
not exceed background levels in the other days. According to visual and video
data, gas-steam plumes rose up to 3.5 km (or 11,500 ft ) ASL and extended to the
north-west on October 23. Several weak shallow earthquakes were registered at
the volcano last week. A thermal anomaly over the dome was noted on October
22.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:
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.