KVERT lowered the Aviation Color Code for Alaid to Green (the lowest level on a four-color scale) on 24 November noting that activity had been gradually decreasing since the last ash plume was recorded on 26 October. The temperature of the thermal anomaly began decreasing on 29 October and reached background levels by 20 November. At 1025 on 26 November (local time) ash plumes from explosions were visible in satellite images drifting 38 km SE at altitudes of 4.5-4.7 km 14,800-15,400 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Orange. Explosions continued through the day; by 1521 (local time) ash plumes were rising to 3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. and ash plumes had drifted as far as 220 km SE. Dates are based on UTC times; specific events are in local time where noted.

Geological Summary. The highest and northernmost volcano of the Kuril Islands, Alaid is a symmetrical stratovolcano when viewed from the north, but has a 1.5-km-wide summit crater that is breached open to the south. This basaltic to basaltic-andesite volcano is the northernmost of a chain constructed west of the main Kuril archipelago. Numerous pyroclastic cones are present the lower flanks, particularly on the NW and SE sides, including an offshore cone formed during the 1933-34 eruption. Strong explosive eruptions have occurred from the summit crater beginning in the 18th century. Reports of eruptions in 1770, 1789, 1821, 1829, 1843, 1848, and 1858 were considered incorrect by Gorshkov (1970). Explosive eruptions in 1790 and 1981 were among the largest reported in the Kuril Islands.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)