Kamchatka: 4 volcanoes on Orange alert level

Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanic Activity KVERT released in their report number 22-11 dated April 21, 2011 at 21:50 UTC (April 22, 2011, 09:50 KST) alert level status of Kamchatka's volcanoes.

The Aviation Color Codes of Kizimen, Sheveluch, Karymsky and Bezymianni are at Orange, Gorely is at Yellow, while Klyuchevskoy, Tolbachik Plosky, Ushkovsky, Koryaksky, Avachinsky and Mutnovsky are at Green.

Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula is home to 29 active volcanoes, including 7 snow-capped stratocones more than 10,000 ft (3,000 m) high. Several eruptions each year in Kamchatka produce ash clouds that threaten the safety of air travel across the North Pacific, including travel between the United States and Russia and Japan. The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), created in 1993 through a cooperative effort of Russian and U.S. scientists, monitors the volcanoes of Kamchatka to provide warnings and rapid reporting of eruptions. (USGS

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO (55°58'N, 160°36'E; Elevation 2,882 m)

Viscous lava flow in effusing at the south-east slope of the dome. Ash explosions up to 10 km (or 32,800 ft) ASL and aerosol plumes could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

Explosive eruption of the volcano occurred on April 13, 20:20 UTC. Viscous lava flow was formed at the south-east slope of the dome, incandescence was visible on April 19. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly was registered over all week, small ash and gas-steam plumes were observed on April 16.

KIZIMEN VOLCANO (55°08'N, 160°19'E; Elevation 2,485 m)

 

Moderate explosive eruption of the volcano continues. Strong ash explosions up to 10 km (or 32,800 ft) ASL could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

Seismicity of the volcano remains high all week. Many shallow volcanic earthquakes and volcanic tremor continues to be recorded at the volcano. Probably ash explosions up to 3.9 km (12,800 ft) occurred. According to satellite data, a big bright thermal anomaly was registered over the volcano all week. Ash plumes extended up to 254 km (159 mi) to the different directions from the volcano on April 14-18, 21.

History of Kizimen eruptions is unknown. We have incomplete data about only one eruption in 1928-1929 which were likely moderate explosive (or explosive-effusive) events. Tephrachronological data point out several catastrophic eruptions in evolution of this volcano.

SHEVELUCH VOLCANO (56°38'N, 161°19'E; Elevation 3,283 m, the dome elevation~2,500 m)

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

Seismicity of the volcano continues, and according to seismic data, possible ash plume rose up to 3.2 km (10,500 ft) ASL this week. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly was registered over the lava dome on April 15-18, and 20. Ash cloud extended 55 km (34 mi) to the north-east from the volcano was observed on April 17. Clouds obscured the volcano during other days.

KARYMSKY VOLCANO (54°03'N, 159°27'E; Elevation 1,486 m)

Explosive activity of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 6.0 km (or 19,700 ft) ASL could occur at any time. Activity of the volcano could affect low-flying aircraft.

Moderate seismic activity of the volcano continues, possible ash plumes rose up to 3.0 km (9,800 ft) ASL. According to satellite data, a thermal anomaly was registered over the volcano on April 16, 18, 21. Clouds obscured the volcano during other days.

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

WEB CAMERAS IN KAMCHATKA:

• KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/video_camera/Klyu.html
• SHEVELUCH VOLCANO: http://data.emsd.ru/videokry/svl.jpg
• BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO: http://data.emsd.iks.ru/videokzy/videokzy.htm
• AVACHINSKY VOLCANO: http://data.emsd.iks.ru/videokry/capture.jpg
• GORELY VOLCANO: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/video_camera/gorely/index.html

Volcanoes of Kamchatka