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Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — 1 December-7 December 2010


Klyuchevskoy

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1 December-7 December 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, 1 December-7 December 2010. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (1 December-7 December 2010)

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 slightly above background levels during 26-27 November, and did not exceed background levels during 28 November-3 December. Satellite imagery showed gas-and-ash plumes drifting 430 km N and NE during 26-29 November and a weak thermal anomaly over the crater on 26, 28, and 29 November. Ash plumes were seen rising to an altitude of 6.3 km (20,700 ft) a.s.l. on 26 and 29 November and 1 December. Ash fell in Kozyrevsk (about 50 km W) on 27 November and in Klyuchi (30 km NNE) on 28 November. Strombolian activity was observed on 1 and 2 December. The Aviation Color Code level remained at Orange.

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)