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Report on Karymsky (Russia) — 29 September-5 October 2010


Karymsky

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 29 September-5 October 2010
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2010. Report on Karymsky (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 29 September-5 October 2010. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (29 September-5 October 2010)

Karymsky

Russia

54.049°N, 159.443°E; summit elev. 1513 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


KVERT reported that seismic activity from Karymsky was at background levels during 22-24 September and above background levels during 25-29 September. The elevated seismicity suggested that ash explosions had occurred. Ash plumes rose to altitudes of 3-4.5 km (9,800-14,800 ft) a.s.l. during 25-27 September. Thermal anomalies were seen in satellite imagery on 23, 25, and 28 September, and ash plumes drifted 83 km SE on 28 September. The Aviation Color Code level remained at Orange.

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.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)