Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — 11 February-17 February 2015
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 11 February-17 February 2015
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2015. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 11 February-17 February 2015. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Klyuchevskoy
Russia
56.056°N, 160.642°E; summit elev. 4754 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
KVERT reported that during 6-13 February a Strombolian and Vulcanian eruption at Klyuchevskoy continued. Incandescence at the summit was visible and bombs were ejected 200-300 m above the crater. Explosions generated ash plumes that rose to altitudes of 5.5-6.5 km (18,000-21,300 ft) a.s.l.; ashfall was reported in Kozyrevsk Village (50 km W) on 7 February and Klyuchi Village (30 km NNE) on 11 February. A lava flow effused onto the E flank. Satellite images showed a daily, big, bright thermal anomaly over the volcano, and ash plumes drifting about 400 km mainly NW and N at altitudes of 5.5-6.5 km (18,000-21,300 ft) a.s.l.
On 15 February at 1035 the webcam recorded ash plumes rising to altitudes of 6-6.5 km (19,700-21,300 ft) a.s.l. and drifting 74 km E. At 1211, 1347, and 1524 ash plumes rose to an altitude of 8 km (26,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 110-232 km E and ESE. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red. At 1656 ash plumes rose to altitudes of 7.5-7.8 km (24,600-25,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 232 km ESE. The Aviation Color Code was lowered to Orange. At 1512 on 16 February ash plumes identified in satellite images rose to an altitude of 6 km (19,700 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 270 km S. The next day, at 0641, 1503, and 1505, ash plumes rose to an altitude of 5.5 km (18,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 114-240 km SE.
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.
