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Report on Koryaksky (Russia) — 31 December-6 January 2009


Koryaksky

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 31 December-6 January 2009
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2008. Report on Koryaksky (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 31 December-6 January 2009. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (31 December-6 January 2009)

Koryaksky

Russia

53.321°N, 158.712°E; summit elev. 3430 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


KVERT reported that during 26 December-7 January seismic activity at Koryaksky was at background levels. Observers reported that during 30-31 December gas-and-steam plumes possibly containing a small amount of ash drifted along the surface of the NW flank. During 6-7 January gas-and-steam plumes drifted SW. The Level of Concern Color Code was lowered to Yellow.

Geological Summary. The large symmetrical Koryaksky stratovolcano is the most prominent landmark of the NW-trending Avachinskaya volcano group, which towers above Kamchatka's largest city, Petropavlovsk. Erosion has produced a ribbed surface on the eastern flanks of the 3430-m-high volcano; the youngest lava flows are found on the upper W flank and below SE-flank cinder cones. Extensive Holocene lava fields on the western flank were primarily fed by summit vents; those on the SW flank originated from flank vents. Lahars associated with a period of lava effusion from south- and SW-flank fissure vents about 3900-3500 years ago reached Avacha Bay. Only a few moderate explosive eruptions have occurred during historical time, but no strong explosive eruptions have been documented during the Holocene. Koryaksky's first historical eruption, in 1895, also produced a lava flow.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)