During the week of 8-14 December, 3-14 shallow earthquakes/day and 1.5-8.0 hours/day of volcanic tremor were recorded, down from the previous week. No visual observations were made because of a snow storm in the area. No information was available for the second half of December because of the suspension of communications from KVERT.

While in Petropavlovsk in mid-January 1995, Tom Miller (AVO) reported a small eruption that occurred sometime between 0630 and 1830 on 14 January. Weather in the area was poor, but an ash cloud was observed at ~9 km altitude. Seismic data indicated a single eruptive burst and not a continuous eruption. Satellite imagery showed weather clouds cover the area. However, at 0857 on 14 January a short, narrow plume, ~35 km long, was very evident on satellite imagery blowing NE. The apex of this plume appeared to start at the SE flank of the volcano, but at 1 km resolution this is uncertain. A band 4 minus band 5 image showed a distinct plume.

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high 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 3000 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 3600 m elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide 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.

Information Contacts: V. Kirianov, IVGG; AVO.