Eruption continues at Klyuchevskoy, ash rising up to 6 km (20 000 feet) a.s.l., Russia
Featured image: Lava flow at Klyuchevskoy volcano on November 13, 2020. Credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, Platform Adam
A moderate explosive-effusive eruption continues at the Russian Klyuchevskoy volcano. The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange.
The eruption at 04:56 UTC on November 16 ejected ash up to 6 km (20 000 feet) above sea level, the Tokyo VAAC reported. Emissions continued through at least 11:20 UTC.
According to video and satellite data, a gas-steam plume with some amount of ash extended for 105 km (65 miles) ENE of the volcano, KVERT reported at 05:27 UTC.
A lava flow continues to effuse along the Apakhonchich chute, as seen in this satellite image acquired on November 13:
Lava flow at Klyuchevskoy volcano on November 13, 2020. Credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, Platform Adam
Geological summary
Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6 000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4 835-m-high (15 862 feet) basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif.
More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3 000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3 600 m (1 640 – 11 811 feet) elevation.
The morphology of the 700-m-wide (2 296 feet) summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters. (GVP)
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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