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Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — 10 December-16 December 2008


Klyuchevskoy

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 December-16 December 2008
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2008. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 10 December-16 December 2008. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (10 December-16 December 2008)

Klyuchevskoy

Russia

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


KVERT reported that seismic activity at Kliuchevskoi was above background levels during 5-12 December. Strombolian activity ejected bombs 500 m above the crater and lava effusion on the NW flank continued. Phreatic bursts occurred where the lava flow front contacted the Erman Glacier. On 6 and 9 December, ashfall was reported in Klyuchi, about 30 km to the NE. Analysis of satellite imagery revealed a large daily thermal anomaly in the crater. Gas-and-steam plumes containing small amounts of ash rose to altitudes of 5-6 km (16,400-19,700 ft) a.s.l. and drifted more than 300 km E. During 8-10 December, ash plumes rose to altitudes of 7.5-8 km (24,600-26,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted about 700 km E. The Level of Concern Color Code remained Orange.

Based on information from KVERT and analysis of satellite imagery, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 13-15 December eruptions ash produced plumes to altitudes of 5.2-8.2 km (17,000-27,000 ft) a.s.l. Plumes drifted E and NE.

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.

Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)