Report on Karymsky (Russia) — March 2002
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 27, no. 3 (March 2002)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.
Karymsky (Russia) Elevated seismicity; possible explosions and avalanches in March 2002
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2002. Report on Karymsky (Russia) (Wunderman, R., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 27:3. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN200203-300130
Karymsky
Russia
54.049°N, 159.443°E; summit elev. 1513 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Episodes of increased seismicity occurred during December 2000 through September 2001 (BGVN 26:08). Since then seismic activity at Karymsky has remained mostly above background levels. The Concern Color Code remained at Yellow ("volcano is restless") through at least late March 2002. Apparent steam plumes were seen in satellite imagery during January-March 2002.
On 4 January 2002, the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) reported above-background seismicity during the previous week, with 40 to 80 weak local earthquakes occurring per day. Several shallow seismic events suggested gas-ash explosions. Beginning at 1200 on 10 January the number of local earthquakes increased noticeably. During 11-14 January about 200 weak local shallow seismic events occurred per day.
During late January through at least March 2002, the seismic station typically recorded approximately 10 local shallow earthquakes per hour. Around 24 January, the earthquakes became slightly stronger. The character of the seismicity during mid-March suggested weak ash-gas explosions and avalanches.
The Tokyo VAAC reported that on 1 February at 1810 an eruption produced an ash cloud that reached ~7.5 km above the summit and drifted to the E; however, the cloud was not visible on satellite imagery. On 13 February at 0945 a pilot reported an ash cloud to ~3.5 km above the volcano extending to the W. Again, this cloud was not visible on satellite imagery; it may have been a single burst that dissipated rapidly.
No ash was detected in satellite images during the report period; only steam and possible airborne volcanic aerosols were visible during late February. Thermal anomalies and plumes were visible on AVHRR satellite imagery throughout the report period (table 1).
Table 1. Thermal anomalies and plumes visible on AVHRR satellite imagery at Karymsky during January through March 2002. Courtesy KVERT.
| Date | Time (local) | Size (pixels) | Max. band-3 temperature | Background temperature | Visible plume |
| 19 Jan 2002 | 1659 | 2 | 31.6°C | -21°C | -- |
| 19 Jan-25 Jan 2002 | 2-4 | -3.7 to 35.0°C | -16 to -25°C | -- | |
| 21 Jan 2002 | 1614 | -- | -- | -- | Steam plume extending 45 km SE |
| 27 Jan 2002 | 1711 | 1 | 47.7°C | -22°C | -- |
| 28 Jan 2002 | 1646 | -- | -- | -- | Small steam plume extending 30 km NE |
| 03 Feb-08 Feb 2002 | -- | 2-10 | 49.7 to -7°C | -15 to -30°C | -- |
| 05 Feb-06 Feb 2002 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Steam plume extending 100-150 km E |
| 08 Feb 2002 | 0536 | 4 | 5.7°C | -22°C | -- |
| 13 Feb 2002 | 0538 | 4 | 0.1°C | -23°C | -- |
| 13 Feb 2002 | 1202 | 4 | -1.7°C | -22 to -28°C | -- |
| 13 Feb 2002 | 1708 | 4 | ~49°C | -20°C | 20-km long steam plume moving SW |
| 14 Feb 2002 | 1644 | 5 | 39°C | -8°C | Small plume extending N |
| 17 Feb 2002 | 0544 | 1 | -3°C | -22°C | -- |
| 18 Feb 2002 | 1649 | 4 | 32°C | -10°C | Short plume extending NE |
| 19 Feb 2002 | 1622 | -- | -- | -- | Small steam plume extending 100 km E |
| 20 Feb 2002 | 0613 | 4 | 24.9°C | -24°C | -- |
| 21 Feb 2002 | 0550 | 4 | -4.2°C | -25°C | -- |
| 22 Feb-01 Mar 2002 | -- | 1-4 | 12 to 40°C | -10 to -27°C | -- |
| 22 Feb 2002 | 1650 | -- | -- | -- | Very diffuse cloud observed that could be related to volcanic aerosols |
| 27 Feb 2002 | 1635 | -- | -- | -- | 20-km long faint steam plume extended E |
| 02 Mar-08 Mar 2002 | -- | 1-4 | 1 to 15°C | -17 to -24°C | -- |
| 06 Mar 2002 | 1708 | -- | -- | -- | Bifurcated steam plume; first branch extended 10 km NE and the second branch extended 20 km SE |
| 16 Mar-22 Mar 2002 | -- | 2-4 | -6.8 to 35.6°C | 0 to -20°C | -- |
| 19 Mar-20 Mar 2002 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Small steam/aerosol plume extending SE |
| 22, 25 Mar 2002 | -- | 1-3 | -6.8 and 14°C | -20°C | -- |
General Reference. Khrenov, A.P., and others, 1982, Eruptive activity of Karymsky Volcano over the period of 10 Years (1970-1980): Volcanology and Seismology, no. 4, p. 29-48.
Tokarev, P.I., 1990, Eruptions and seismicity at Karymskii volcano in 1965-1986: Volcanology and Seismology, v. 11, p. 117-134 (in English).
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.
Information Contacts: Olga Chubarova, Kamchatka Volcanic Eruptions Response Team (KVERT), Institute of Volcanic Geology and Geochemistry, Piip Ave. 9, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006, Russia; Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC),Tokyo, Japan (URL: https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/svd/vaac/data/).
