Report on Karymsky (Russia) — 10 July-16 July 2024
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 July-16 July 2024
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Written by JoAnna G. Marlow.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. Report on Karymsky (Russia) (Marlow, J G, and Sennert, S, eds.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 July-16 July 2024. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Karymsky
Russia
54.049°N, 159.443°E; summit elev. 1513 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) reported that moderate explosive activity continued at Karymsky during 4-11 July. Satellite data analyzed by KVERT showed that explosions on 5-7 and 10 July generated ash plumes that rose about 2.5 km above the summit (to 4 km a.s.l.) and drifted as far as 80 km NE and E. Additionally, a thermal anomaly was observed over the volcano during 5-7 and 10 July; weather clouds prevented observations in satellite images on the other days. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the third level on a four-color scale). Dates are reported in UTC; specific events are in local time where noted.
Geological Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, located immediately south. The caldera enclosing Karymsky formed about 7600-7700 radiocarbon years ago; construction of the stratovolcano began about 2000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been vulcanian or vulcanian-strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater.