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Report on Sheveluch (Russia) — April 2013


Sheveluch

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 38, no. 4 (April 2013)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.

Sheveluch (Russia) Dome growth and volcanic activity continues

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2013. Report on Sheveluch (Russia) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 38:4. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201304-300270



Sheveluch

Russia

56.653°N, 161.36°E; summit elev. 3283 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Background. A summary of Shiveluch volcano was included in a paper by Van Manen and others (2012). It noted that the activity of Shiveluch was predominantly characterized by dome formation accompanied by strong explosions (as described by Belousov and others, 1999). After 14 years of intense fumarolic activity, Shiveluch fed a Plinian eruption accompanied by large-scale edifice failure on 11 November 1964 (Gorshkov and Dubik, 1970). Since 1964, at least 0.27 km3 of magma had been discharged from Shiveluch during three main phases: (1) 1980-1981, (2) 1993-1995 and (3) 2001-2004 (Dirksen and others, 2006). An additional phase of dome extrusion, accompanied by minor explosive activity that commenced in 2006, continued at least to January 2012. Each of these phases was associated with andesite dome growth punctuated by explosions.

A website by KVERT (Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team) (2013) shows several years of primarily ground-based photographs of plumes from Shiveluch volcano.

The Institute of Volcanology and Seismology website (2013) reported that Shiveluch is noted for its unusual rocks, close to adakites, likely indicating its position over the northern edge of the subducting Pacific plate, warmed by mantle flow (Volynets et al. 2000; Yogodzinski et al. 2001). It is one of the most prolific explosive centers of Kamchatka, with a magma discharge of ˜36x106 tons per year, an order of magnitude higher than that typical of island arc volcanoes (Melekestsev et al. 1991).

March 2011-May 2013. Our last issue on Shiveluch covered up to March 2011 (BGVN 36:04). Based on visual observations and analyses of satellite data, KVERT reported that from March 2011 through at least May 2013, explosive-extrusive-effusive eruption of the volcano continued. A viscous lava flow effused on the NW to E flanks of the lava dome, accompanied by hot avalanches, incandescence, and fumarolic activity. Satellite imagery showed a daily thermal anomaly on the lava dome when not obscured by clouds. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange except for a few days in October 2011.

In Table 11 we include several representative cases where possible plumes (steam and/or ash) of larger sizes were documented during the last 2 years. Measurements were made by ground observers or from satellite images; in many cases, cloud cover over several weeks or months presumably excluded observations. In addition, the KVERT reports contain many unexplained time gaps for description of the plume.

Table 11. Representative cases of occurrence of reported possible plume altitude in excess of 8 km and/or plume drift greater than 100 km during the period March 2011-June 2013; "nr" = not reported. It should be noted that the distances based on observations are probably accurate to no more than ˜1-2 km. International flights were rerouted on 28-31 August 2011. The Aviation Color code was raised to Red, then lowered to Orange during 3-8 October 2011. Courtesy of KVERT and Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC).

Date(s) Plume altitude Plume drift (km)/direction Comments
11-18 Mar 11 3.8-8 km 312 km/W and NW --
18-20 Mar 11 5.8 km 373 km/SE and N --
1-5 Apr 11 7.5 km 187 km --
22-27 Apr 11 6.7 km 153 km/N; 400 km/SE --
1 May 11 4.5 km 124 km/NE --
5-7 May 11 3-7.5 km 196 km/N --
29-31 May 11 7.6-10 km 1,000 km/S-SW --
4-6 Jun 11 6.1-9.1 km 734 km/SE --
15 Jun 11 10 km 26 km/NW --
19-21 Jun 11 10 km 176 km/nr --
23 Aug 11 8.2 km nr/nr --
28-31 Aug 11 6.1-8.6 km nr/E and NE International flights rerouted
11 Sep 11 10.3 km nr/nr --
3-8 Oct 11 6-9 km 160 km/NE Aviation Color Code raised to Red, then lowered to Orange
13-18 Oct 11 8-10.5 km 75 km/E --
21-25 Oct 11 7.1-10.6 km 170 km/SE --
25-28 Mar 12 7 km 192 km/E and SE --
29 Mar-3 Apr 12 6.6 km 114 km/W,E, and NE --
14-18 Apr 12 4-7.5 km 120 km/N, NE, and E --
24 Apr 12 10 km 396 km/NE --
1 May 12 5 km 270 km/NE --
5 May 12 10 km 800 km/SE --
12 May 12 8 km 800 km/E --
19-20 May 12 9.1-9.5 km 410 km/SW --
25-30 May 12 9 km 555 km/SW, SE, and E --
2 Jun 12 9.1 km 250 km/S --
5-6 Jun 12 8-8.2 km nr/nr --
15 Jun 12 8.2 km nr/nr --
24 Jun 12 5.2-9.8 km nr/nr --
27 Jul 12 10.1 km nr/nr --
6-11 Apr 12 7.7 km 210 km/SW and SE --
18-20 Sep 12 8 km 2,000 km/SE --
4-6 Oct 12 6-7 km 360 km/SE --
4-6 Mar 13 7-9 km 200 km/SE --
10 Jun 13 7-8 km nr/nr --

As shown on the table, on 5 October 2011, KVERT reported that the current Aviation Color Code for Shiveluch was Red. Activity of the volcano began to increase from 3 October. Ash plumes rose up to 6.0-9.0 km on 3-5 October. According to visual data, a bright incandesce of the lava dome was observed over several hours. Satellite data showed a large thermal anomaly over the lava dome, and strong explosive events could occur in near time. On 6 October 2011, the Aviation Color Code was reduced to Orange. Explosive-extrusive eruption of the volcano continued. New lava extruded at the lava dome after strong explosions on 3-5 October, and moderate seismic activity of the volcano continued. On 5-6 October, ash plumes rose up to 4.5-5.0 km. Ash plumes drifted to the NE from the volcano. Satellite images showed that the large thermal anomaly continued over the lava dome.

A rather interesting pair of satellite images were collected on 6 October 2012 (figure 35). The first image image captured Shiveluch just before an exuption; the second, 2 hours later, showed an eruption plume drifting away from the volcano. The MODVOLC Hot Spots web site showing Modis satellite thermal alerts measured no alert during this 6 October event.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 35. When NASA's Terra satellite passed over Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula at noon local time (0000 UTC) on 6 October 2012, Shilveluch Volcano was quiet (top image). By the time NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the area two hours later (bottom image), the volcano had erupted and sent a plume of ash over the Kamchatskiy Zaliv. The plume traveled about 90 kilometers toward the SSE, where a change in wind direction began pushing the plume toward the E. On 6 October, the Kamchatka Volcanic Emergency Response Team (KVERT) reported that the ash plume from Shiveluch reached an altitude of 3 kilometers above sea level, and had traveled some 220 kilometers from the volcano summit. This was not the first time that MODIS observed a Shiveluch eruption shortly after it started. In 2007, MODIS captured an image within minutes of the eruption's start, before winds could blow the ash away from the summit. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.

On 4 March 2013, a single explosion ejected an ash plume up to 7 km. Strong collapses of hot avalanches from the lava dome occurred on 6 March, and resulting ash plumes rose up to 5 km and extended about 200 km SE of the volcano. An explosion on 5 April observed by video generated an ash plume that rose to altitudes of 5.5-6 km (figure 36).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 36. (Left) Quiet winds on 3 April 2013 allowed a plume of gas and ash to remain above and near Shiveluch. This false-color (near infrared, red, and green) image was collected by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on the Terra satellite. Looking at the land surface, snow is white; ash, light brown, and volcanic debris, dark brown. (Right) A broader view on the same day of Shiveluch (upper right) and some adjacent volcanoes, including Bezymianny, Tolbachik, and Kizimen, all seen in eruption on high resolution versions of this image. A fourth volcano, Klyuchevskaya (synynom of Klinchevoskoi) emitted a small plume. Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory with credit to Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon (who used data from the NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS and the U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team).

References: Belousov, A.B., 1995, The Shiveluch volcanic eruption of 12 November 1964-explosive eruption provoked by failure of the edifice, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 66, pp. 357-365.

Belousov, A., Belousova, M., and Voight, B., 1999, Multiple edifice failures, debris avalanches and associated eruptions in the Holocene history of Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka, Russia, Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 61, no. 5, pp. 324-342.

Dirksen, O., Humphreys, M.C.S., Pletchov, P., Melnik, O., Demyanchuk, Y., Sparks, R.S.J., and Mahony, S., 2006, The 2001-2004 dome-forming eruption of Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka: observation, petrological investigation and numerical modelling, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 155, issue 3-4, pp. 201-226.

Gorshkov, G.S. and Dubik, Y.M., 1970, Gigantic directed blast as Shiveluch volcano (Kamchatka), Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 34, no. 1, pp. 261-288.

Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, 2013, Holocene Kamchatka volcanoes - Shiveluch, Global Volcanism Program number 1000-27, Kamchatka, Russia (URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/volcanoes/holocene/main/textpage/shiveluch.htm ).

KVERT, 2013, Current activity of the volcanoes, (URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/current_eng.php?pageNum_img=1&name=Sheveluch ).

Melekestsev, I.V., Volynets, O.N., Ermakov, V.A., Kirsanova, T.P., and Masurenkov, Yu.P., 1991, Shiveluch volcano. In: Fedotov, S.A., and Masurenkov, Yu.P. (eds) Active volcanoes of Kamchatka. V. 1. Nauka, Moscow, pp 84-92 [in Russian, summary in English].

Ponomareva, V.V., Pevzne,r M.M., and Melekestsev, I.V., 1998, Large debris avalanches and associated eruptions in the Holocene eruptive history of Shiveluch volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 59, no. 7, pp. 490-505.

van Manen, S.M., Blake, S., and Dehn, J., 2012, Satellite thermal infrared data of Shiveluch, Kliuchevskoi, and Karymsky, 1993-2008: effusion, explosions and the potential to forecast ash plumes, Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 74, pp. 1313-1335 (DOI 10.1007/s00445-012-0599-8).

Volynets, O.N., Babanskii, A.D., and Gol'tsman, Y.V., 2000, Variations in isotopic and trace-element composition of lavas from volcanoes of the Northern group, Kamchatka, in relation to specific features of subduction, Geochemistry International. v. 38, no. 10, pp. 974-989.

Yogodzinski, G.M., Lees, J.M., Churikova, T.G., Dorendorf, F., Woerner, G., and Volynets, O.N., 2001, Geochemical evidence for the melting of subducting oceanic lithosphere at plate edges, Nature, v. 409, 25 January, pp. 500-504.

Geological Summary. The high, isolated massif of Sheveluch volcano (also spelled Shiveluch) rises above the lowlands NNE of the Kliuchevskaya volcano group. The 1,300 km3 andesitic volcano is one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanic structures, with at least 60 large eruptions during the Holocene. The summit of roughly 65,000-year-old Stary Shiveluch is truncated by a broad 9-km-wide late-Pleistocene caldera breached to the south. Many lava domes occur on its outer flanks. The Molodoy Shiveluch lava dome complex was constructed during the Holocene within the large open caldera; Holocene lava dome extrusion also took place on the flanks of Stary Shiveluch. Widespread tephra layers from these eruptions have provided valuable time markers for dating volcanic events in Kamchatka. Frequent collapses of dome complexes, most recently in 1964, have produced debris avalanches whose deposits cover much of the floor of the breached caldera.

Information Contacts: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) (URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php); Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC); NASA Earth Observatory (URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=80830).