VONA Weekly
Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanic Activity
KVERT INFORMATION RELEASE 10-12
March 01, 2012, 23:45 UTC (March 02, 11:45 KST)

KVERT IVS FED RAS monitor 30 active volcanoes of Kamchatka and 6 active volcanoes of Northern Kuriles.

KVERT (IVS FED RAS) scientists is available in the office from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM (KST) in the work days and by phone during the evenings.

SUMMARY OF AVIATION COLOR CODES:

KAMCHATKA
Real-time seismic data:
SHEVELUCH, KIZIMEN, BEZYMIANNY and KARYMSKY: ORANGE
GORELY: YELLOW
KLYUCHEVSKOY, TOLBACHIK PLOSKY, USHKOVSKY, KORYAKSKY, AVACHINSKY, MUTNOVSKY: GREEN

No seismic data: ICHINSKY, VYSOKY, GAMCHEN, KOMAROV, KRONOTSKY, KRASHENINNIKOV, KIKHPINYCH, TAUNSHITS, MALY SEMYACHIK, ZHUPANOVSKY, OPALA, KSUDACH, ZHELTOVSKY, ILIINSKY, KOSHELEV, KAMBALNY, DIKII GREBEN, KHODUTKA and KHANGAR: GREEN

NORTHERN KURILES
No seismic data: EBEKO, CHIKURACHKI, ALAID, TATARINOV, FUSS PEAK and KARPINSKY: GREEN

KVERT (IVS FED RAS) scientists examined satellite information each day to look for evidence of volcanic unrest since 2002. Not all of these volcanoes had eruptions in historical time, however they are potentially active and therefore are of concern to aviation.

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO (1000-25)
55°58'N, 160°36'E; Elevation 9,455 ft (2,882 m)
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Activity of the volcano gradually increases. Strong ash explosions up to 42,640 ft (13 km) a.s.l. possible during next week. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

Seismic activity increased on February 12 and remains the same till now: about 7-19 weak seismic events are registering each day. One short episode of volcanic tremor was registered on February 29. Probably an extrude of lava blocks at the top of the dome occur, that prepares a strong explosive eruption of the volcano. A strong and moderate gas-steam activity of the volcano was observed on February 26; clouds obscured the volcano on the other days of week. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly over the volcano continues to noting on the satellite images.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current/bzm/index.html

SHEVELUCH VOLCANO (1000-27)
56°38'N, 161°19'E; Elevation 3,283 m, the dome elevation ~8,200 ft (~2,500 m)
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Explosive-extrusive-effusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 32,800 ft (10 km) ASL could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

Seismic activity of the volcano was mainly low last week; but it some increased on February 28 - probably hot avalanches occurred at the dome. According to visual and satellite data, a viscous lava flow continues to effuse into the explosive crater of 2010 eruption. Moderate fumarolic activity of the lava dome was observing on March 01-02; clouds obscured the volcano on the other days of week. A weak thermal anomaly was noting over the lava dome on February 23-26 at satellite images.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current/shv/index.html

KIZIMEN VOLCANO (1000-23)
55°08'N, 160°19'E; Elevation 8,151 ft (2,485 m)
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Effusive eruption of the volcano continues. Strong ash explosions up to 32,800 ft (10 km) ASL are possible. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

Moderate seismic activity of the volcano continues. Video data and satellite imagery showed that the lava flow continues to effusing on the eastern volcanic flank. Hot avalanches accompany the lava flow effusion. Strong gas-steam activity of the volcano was noting at video camera all week. A big thermal anomaly was registering over the volcano on February 23, 24-26 and 24-29, and March 01 at satellite images. Clouds obscured the volcano on February 24 and 27.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current_eng.php?name=Kizimen

KARYMSKY VOLCANO (1000-13)
54°03'N, 159°27'E; Elevation 4,874 ft (1,486 m)
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS ORANGE

Explosive activity of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 19,700 ft (6 km) ASL could occur at any time. Activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

Moderate seismic activity of the volcano continues; according to seismic data, possible ash plumes rose up to 12,800 ft (3.9 km) a.s.l. on February 23-27. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly was registering over the volcano on February 25; clouds obscured the volcano on the other days of week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current/krm/index.html

GORELY VOLCANO (1000-07)
52°33'N, 158°02'E; Elevation 5,996 ft (1,828 m)
AVIATION COLOR CODE IS YELLOW

Seismic activity of the volcano remains some heightened. Ash explosions up to 19,700 ft (6 km) ASL are possible. Ash and aerosol plumes from the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

There was not seismic data from February 05 till present by technical reasons. Moderate gas-steam activity of the volcano was observing on March 01. According to satellite data, the volcano was obscured by clouds all week the exception of March 01.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current/grl/index.html


INFORMATION ABOUT VOLCANOES OF KAMCHATKA AND THE NORTHERN KURILES: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volcanoes/index_eng.html

WEB CAMERAS IN KAMCHATKA (KIZIMEN VOLCANO, KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO, SHEVELUCH VOLCANO, BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO, GORELY VOLCANO, AVACHINSKY VOLCANO): http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php


IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Dr. Olga Girina, Head of KVERT, IVS FED RAS
E-mail: girina@kscnet.ru
Tel. (4152) 29-78-90


The KVERT Project is a cooperative program of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IVS) FED RAS and the Kamchatkan Branch of Geophysical Survey (KB GS) RAS since 1993. KVERT (IVS FED RAS) scientists was available in the office from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM (KST) 7 days in week in 2005-2011. Now KVERT (IVS FED RAS) scientists is available in the office from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM (KST) in the work days and by phone during the evenings. KVERT (IVS FED RAS) analyses daily satellite imagery; information from remote scientific observation stations; real-time seismic data for 11 Kamchatkan volcanoes (data from KBGS RAS); 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