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Report on Chirpoi (Russia) — 12 December-18 December 2012


Chirpoi

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 12 December-18 December 2012
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2012. Report on Chirpoi (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 12 December-18 December 2012. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (12 December-18 December 2012)

Chirpoi

Russia

46.532°N, 150.871°E; summit elev. 742 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


SVERT reported that a thermal anomaly was detected over Snow, a volcano of Chirpoi, during 11 and 13-15 December. A steam-and-gas plume was observed on 15 December. Cloud cover prevented observations of the volcano on other days during 10-17 December.

Geological Summary. Chirpoi, a small island lying between the larger islands of Simushir and Urup, contains a half dozen volcanic edifices constructed within an 8-9 km wide, partially submerged caldera. The southern rim of the caldera is exposed on nearby Brat Chirpoev Island. The symmetrical Cherny volcano, which forms the central cone of the island, erupted twice during the 18th and 19th centuries. The youngest volcano, Snow, originated between 1770 and 1810. It is composed almost entirely of lava flows, many of which have reached the sea on the southern coast. No recorded eruptions are known from Brat Chirpoev, but its youthful morphology suggests recent Strombolian activity.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)