Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanic Activity
KVERT INFORMATION RELEASE 12-09
Wednesday, March 04, 2009, 02:20 UTC (14:20 KST)

SUMMARY OF LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODES:

KAMCHATKA:
KORYAKSKY, SHEVELUCH and KARYMSKY: ORANGE
KLYUCHEVSKOY and BEZYMIANNY: YELLOW
TOLBACHIK PLOSKY, KIZIMEN, AVACHINSKY, MUTNOVSKY and GORELY: GREEN

NORTHERN KURILES:
CHIKURACHKI, EBEKO and ALAID: GREEN

KORYAKSKY VOLCANO; 53°19'N, 158°43'E; Elevation 3,456 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS ORANGE
PREVIOUS LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW

Activity of the volcano increased. Aerosolic plumes containing small amount of ash extending > 200 km ( mi) to the east-north-east from the volcano were observed on March 03-04. The activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

Seismic activity of the volcano was at background levels last week. According to visual data, Aerosolic plumes containing small amount of ash raising up to 3.7 km (12,100 ft) ASL and extending > 200 km ( mi) to the east-north-east from the volcano were observed on March 03-04. Ash deposits was noted on the snow at the summit of the volcano, and at the area (a crossing) between Koryksky and Avachinsky volcanoes. A thickness of the ash at the the crossing was about 1-2 mm on March 04. According to satellite data, aerosolic plumes containing ash extending about 200 km (124 mi) to the north-east and east-north-east from the volcano were observed on Marth 03-04.

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 ORANGE

The lava flow continues to effuse on the southern and northern flanks of the lava dome. Ash explosions up to 10 km (32,800 ft) ASL could occur at any time. The activity of the volcano could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

Seismicity was above background levels all week. According to seismic data, probably ash plumes up to 5.5 km (18,000 ft) ASL occurred at the volcano. Strong and moderate fumarolic activity was observed on February 20-21 and 23-25. The volcano was obscured by clouds in the other days of the week. According to visual data by pilots, dark plumes up to 5.0 km (16,400 ft) ASL were observed near the volcano on February 24-25. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly was registered over the lava dome all week. Ash plume extending 40 km (25 mi) to the NNE from the volcano was noted on February 25. According to the video data, probably a height of the plume was about 5 km (16,400 ft) ASL.

KARYMSKY VOLCANO: 54°03'N, 159°27'E; Elevation 1,486 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Explosive activity of the volcano continues and ash explosions up to 6.0 km (or 19,700 ft) ASL are possible. The explosive activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.

Seismic activity was above background levels all week. According to seismic data, probably ash plumes up to 3.7 km (12,200 ft) ASL occurred at the volcano. According to visual data by pilots, a dark plume up to 2.1 km (6,900 ft) ASL was observed near the volcano on February 24. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly was registered over the volcano on February 21 and 24-25. An ash plume extending about 150 km (93 mi) to the NE from the volcano was noted on February 21.

KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO; 56° 03'N, 160° 39'E; Elevation 4,750 m
CURRENT LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODE IS YELLOW

Moderate fumarolic activity of the volcano continues. Gas-steam and/or aerosolic with ash plumes from the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

Seismic activity was above background levels on February 19-20, and at background levels during other days. Weak spasmodic volcanic tremor was registering. According to visual data, a weak fumarolic activity was observed at the volcano all week. According to satellite data, a weak thermal anomaly was registered over the volcano on February 22-24.

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. Sudden ash emission related to this activity could affect low-flying aircraft in the vicinity of the volcano.

Seismic activity of the volcano didn't exceeded background levels during this week. According to visual data, a weak fumarolic activity of the volcano was observed on February 19, 21 and 23-24. The volcano was obscured by clouds during other days. According to satellite data, a weak thermal anomaly over the dome was registered on February 22. Clouds obscured the volcano during other days.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Dr. Olga Girina, KVERT, IVS FED RAS
E-mail: girina@kscnet.ru
Tel. (41522) 58627

Svetlana Toloknova, KVERT, KB GS RAS
E-mail: ssl@emsd.ru
Tel. (41522) 59523

Dr. Tom Murray, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS
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 Kuriles Volcanoes.

The official web-page of KVERT (the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FED RAS): http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php
Archive of daily information KB GS RAS: ftp://emsd.iks.ru/pub/DATA/RTS/Volcanoes
KVERT Information Releases at the web-page of AVO (Alaska Volcano observatory): http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/avoreport.php?view=kaminfo