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Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — February 1987


Klyuchevskoy

Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, vol. 12, no. 2 (February 1987)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.

Klyuchevskoy (Russia) Strong explosions; lava from flank fissure

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1987. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) (McClelland, L., ed.). Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, 12:2. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.SEAN198702-300260



Klyuchevskoy

Russia

56.056°N, 160.642°E; summit elev. 4754 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Soviet geologists reported that after intense summit crater explosive activity a NE-trending fracture (azimuth 135°) opened 24 February [but see 13:4] on the SE flank at 3,900-3,400 m altitude. Small amounts of lava were quietly emitted along the fracture. The flank eruption ceased on 26 February.

Small plumes had been intermittently visible on satellite images (figure 1) since 18 January. More vigorous activity was evident beginning 17 February and was almost continuous through 24 February (table 2). Maximum plume length was 500 km and maximum altitude may have reached 13.7 km.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. NOAA 10 thermal infrared (3.8 µm) satellite image on 18 February at 1017. A plume extends 65 km from Kliuchevskoi at ~3 km altitude. Courtesy of NOAA/NESDIS.

Table 2. Descriptions of Kliuchevskoi plumes from infrared weather satellite images, 21-28 February 1987. Plume altitudes were estimated by comparing wind data from radiosondes launched 15 km N of the volcano with directions of plume movement.

Date Time Altitude (km) Length (km) Direction Satellite
21 Feb 1987 1022 1.5-7.2 65 ESE NOAA 10
21 Feb 1987 1200 1.5-7.2 375 ESE GMS
21 Feb 1987 1500 1.5-7.2 250 ESE GMS
21 Feb 1987 1800 9.2-10.4 125 E GMS
21 Feb 1987 2100 1.5-3.0 150 E GMS
22 Feb 1987 0000 1.5-3.0 440 E GMS
22 Feb 1987 0600 3.0 125 E GMS
22 Feb 1987 0900 5.6-11.8 250 ENE GMS
22 Feb 1987 1031 9.2-13.7 105 ENE NOAA 10
22 Feb 1987 1200 9.2-13.7 440 ENE GMS
22 Feb 1987 1500 9.2-13.7 500 ENE GMS
22 Feb 1987 1800 5.6-10.4 500 ENE GMS
22 Feb 1987 2100 5.6-10.4 500 ENE GMS
23 Feb 1987 0000 10.4-11.8 310 ENE GMS
23 Feb 1987 0300 -- cloudy -- GMS
24 Feb 1987 0600 -- cloudy -- GMS
24 Feb 1987 0900 5.6 190 NW GMS
24 Feb 1987 1448 5.6 125 NW NOAA 9
24 Feb 1987 1500 5.6 500 NW GMS
24 Feb 1987 1800 3.0 500 NW GMS
24 Feb 1987 2100 3.0 500 NW GMS
28 Feb 1987 0442 -- 20 WSW NOAA 9

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy is the highest and most active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Since its origin about 6,000 years ago, this symmetrical, basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during approximately the past 3,000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 and 3,600 m elevation. Eruptions recorded since the late 17th century have resulted in frequent changes to the morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater. These eruptions over the past 400 years have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

Information Contacts: A. Khrenov, IV; M. Matson and W. Gould, NOAA/NESDIS.