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Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — 25 August-31 August 2010


Klyuchevskoy

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 25 August-31 August 2010
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2010. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 25 August-31 August 2010. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (25 August-31 August 2010)

Klyuchevskoy

Russia

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


KVERT reported that 20-27 August seismic activity from Kliuchevskoi was above background levels and lava flowed down the SW flank. Strombolian activity and gas-and-ash emissions were observed on 20 and 21 August. Cloud cover prevented observations the other days. Satellite imagery analyses showed a large and intense daily thermal anomaly from the volcano and ash plumes that drifted more than 200 km SE on 20 August. Based on analyses of satellite imagery and information from KEMSD, the Tokyo VAAC reported that an eruption on 28 August produced plumes that rose to altitudes of 7.6-10.4 km (25,000-34,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Satellite imagery showed a possible eruption on 30 August. The Aviation Color Code level remained at Orange.

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)