Logo link to homepage

Sinarka

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 48.873°N
  • 154.182°E

  • 911 m
    2,989 ft

  • 290290
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Weekly Report: 18 March-24 March 2015 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that satellite images showed steam-and-gas emissions from Sinarka on 16 March and a weak thermal anomaly on 21 March.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


Most Recent Bulletin Report: June 2016 (BGVN 41:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Stronger thermal activity during November 2014-March 2015; possible minor ash emission

The hydrothermally-active Sinarka volcano (figure 1) is located on the NE end of the dumbbell-shaped island of Shiashkotan, in the Kuril Islands chain, with Kuntomintar in the south (figure 2). Kalacheva et al. (2015) note that the extrusive dome within the central cone exhibits degassing through strong and hot (over 400°C) fumaroles (figure 3). Much of the time the volcano is obscured by clouds from satellite observations, but it is monitored by the Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Landsat / Copernicus satellite image showing Sinarka volcano at the NE end of Shiashkotan Island. Courtesy of Google Earth.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Map (right) showing Sinarka and Kuntomintar volcanoes along with geothermal features of Shiashkotan Island. Index map (left) shows the location of Shiashkotan within the Kuril Islands arc. Modified from Kalacheva et al. (2015).
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Photo of the lava dome within the central cone of Sinarka. From Kalacheva et al. (2015); photo by Elena Kalacheva.

The Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT) noted volcanic activity at Sinarka between 11 November 2014 and 21 March 2015 (table 1). The primary observations were of a weak thermal anomaly combined with weak steam-and-gas plumes seen in satellite imagery. Plumes sometimes drifted as far as 40-50 km downwind. The cause of the anomalies is unknown. However, on 3 December 2014 the plume reportedly contained minor ash.

Table 1. Summary of activity observed at Sinarka volcano from November 2014 to June 2016. Courtesy of Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

Date Activity Aviation Color Code
11 Nov 2014 Weak steam/gas plume drifting 40 km E. Yellow
12 Nov 2014 Strengthening steam/gas plume drifting NE; weak thermal anomaly. Yellow
16 Nov 2014 Weak thermal anomaly. Yellow
19 Nov 2014 Weak steam/gas plume. Yellow
27 Nov 2014 Steam/gas plume drifting 50 km SE. Yellow
03 Dec 2014 Minor ash with steam/gas plume drifting 40 km NE. Yellow
06 Dec 2014 Weak steam/gas plume. Yellow
08 Dec 2014 Weak steam/gas plume. Yellow
05 Jan 2015 Steam/gas plume to 3 km drifting SE. Yellow
26 Jan 2015 No activity detected in January. Green
16 Mar 2015 Weak steam/gas plume. Green
21 Mar 2015 Weak thermal anomaly. Green

Reference: Kalacheva, E., Taran, Y., and Kotenko, T., 2015, Geochemistry and solute fluxes of volcano-hydrothermal systems of Shiashkotan, Kuril Islands. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 296, p. 40-54.

Information Contacts: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT), Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Science, Nauki st., 1B, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, 693022 (URL: http://www.imgg.ru/en/, http://www.imgg.ru/ru/svert/reports).

Weekly Reports - Index


2015: January | March
2014: November | December


18 March-24 March 2015 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that satellite images showed steam-and-gas emissions from Sinarka on 16 March and a weak thermal anomaly on 21 March.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


21 January-27 January 2015 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that activity at Sinarka was not detected during January; on 26 January the Aviation Color Code was lowered to Green.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


7 January-13 January 2015 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that steam-and-gas emissions detected in satellite images rose 3 km above Sinarka and drifted SE on 5 January. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 6-12 January. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


10 December-16 December 2014 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that on 8 December satellite images of Sinarka showed diffuse steam-and-gas emissions. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 9-15 December. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


3 December-9 December 2014 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that on 3 December satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions with small amounts of ash drifting 40 km NE. Diffuse steam-and-gas emissions were observed on 6 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 1-8 December. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


26 November-2 December 2014 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that on 27 November satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions drifting 50 km SE. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 24 November-1 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


19 November-25 November 2014 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions on 19 November. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 17-24 November. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


12 November-18 November 2014 Citation IconCite this Report

SVERT reported that satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions drifted 40 km E on 11 November. The next day a weak thermal anomaly was detected. Gas-and-steam activity became more robust; emissions drifted NE. A weak thermal anomaly was again detected on 16 November. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

Source: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT)


Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

06/2016 (BGVN 41:06) Stronger thermal activity during November 2014-March 2015; possible minor ash emission




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


June 2016 (BGVN 41:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Stronger thermal activity during November 2014-March 2015; possible minor ash emission

The hydrothermally-active Sinarka volcano (figure 1) is located on the NE end of the dumbbell-shaped island of Shiashkotan, in the Kuril Islands chain, with Kuntomintar in the south (figure 2). Kalacheva et al. (2015) note that the extrusive dome within the central cone exhibits degassing through strong and hot (over 400°C) fumaroles (figure 3). Much of the time the volcano is obscured by clouds from satellite observations, but it is monitored by the Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Landsat / Copernicus satellite image showing Sinarka volcano at the NE end of Shiashkotan Island. Courtesy of Google Earth.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Map (right) showing Sinarka and Kuntomintar volcanoes along with geothermal features of Shiashkotan Island. Index map (left) shows the location of Shiashkotan within the Kuril Islands arc. Modified from Kalacheva et al. (2015).
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Photo of the lava dome within the central cone of Sinarka. From Kalacheva et al. (2015); photo by Elena Kalacheva.

The Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT) noted volcanic activity at Sinarka between 11 November 2014 and 21 March 2015 (table 1). The primary observations were of a weak thermal anomaly combined with weak steam-and-gas plumes seen in satellite imagery. Plumes sometimes drifted as far as 40-50 km downwind. The cause of the anomalies is unknown. However, on 3 December 2014 the plume reportedly contained minor ash.

Table 1. Summary of activity observed at Sinarka volcano from November 2014 to June 2016. Courtesy of Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

Date Activity Aviation Color Code
11 Nov 2014 Weak steam/gas plume drifting 40 km E. Yellow
12 Nov 2014 Strengthening steam/gas plume drifting NE; weak thermal anomaly. Yellow
16 Nov 2014 Weak thermal anomaly. Yellow
19 Nov 2014 Weak steam/gas plume. Yellow
27 Nov 2014 Steam/gas plume drifting 50 km SE. Yellow
03 Dec 2014 Minor ash with steam/gas plume drifting 40 km NE. Yellow
06 Dec 2014 Weak steam/gas plume. Yellow
08 Dec 2014 Weak steam/gas plume. Yellow
05 Jan 2015 Steam/gas plume to 3 km drifting SE. Yellow
26 Jan 2015 No activity detected in January. Green
16 Mar 2015 Weak steam/gas plume. Green
21 Mar 2015 Weak thermal anomaly. Green

Reference: Kalacheva, E., Taran, Y., and Kotenko, T., 2015, Geochemistry and solute fluxes of volcano-hydrothermal systems of Shiashkotan, Kuril Islands. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 296, p. 40-54.

Information Contacts: Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT), Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Science, Nauki st., 1B, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, 693022 (URL: http://www.imgg.ru/en/, http://www.imgg.ru/ru/svert/reports).

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 4 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 2014 Dec 3 - 2014 Dec 3 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
2014 Dec 3 - 2014 Dec 3 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
2014 Nov 12    - - - - Thermal Anomaly
2014 Dec 3    - - - - Ash

1872 - 1878 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption
1872 - 1878 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1872    - - - - Fatalities
1872    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1855 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption
1855 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1855    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1846 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption
1846 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion violent, strong, or large
1846    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1725 ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption
1725 ± 25 years - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
1725 ± 25 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Sinarka.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Sinarka.

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Sinarka in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites