Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Kikhpinych.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Kikhpinych.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Kikhpinych.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

300180

1550 CE

1,515 m / 4,970 ft

54.489°N
160.251°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano(es)
Lava dome

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

0
29
687
4,322

Geological Summary

Kikhpinych, the youngest stratovolcano of the Eastern Volcanic Zone of Kamchatka, contains three summits constructed along a roughly E-W line above the eroded Pleistocene Pik volcano, NE of the Uzon caldera. Growth of the modern volcano began during the mid-Holocene about 4,800 years ago with construction of the Zapadny cone. After a long quiescence, the younger Savich cone was built about 1,400 years ago, which included strong explosive activity that destroyed part of the Zapadny and Pik cones. Numerous young lava flows mantle the flanks of Savich; it was last active about 400 years ago, when the Krab lava dome grew on its E flank. Numerous thermal fields are found throughout the complex, including two geysers (now the site of vigorous fumaroles) that were active in the summit crater of Stary Kikhpinych prior to burial by a rockfall avalanche that occurred sometime between September 1981 and July 1982.

This volcano is located within the Volcanoes of Kamchatka, a UNESCO World Heritage property.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Braitseva O A, Florenskii I V, Ponomareva V V, Litasova S N, 1985. The history of the activity of Kikhpinych volcano in the Holocene. Volc Seism, 1985(6): 3-19 (English translation 1989, 7: 845-872).

Fedotov S A, Masurenkov Y P (eds), 1991. Active Volcanoes of Kamchatka. Moscow: Nauka Pub, 2 volumes.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior.

Kardanova O F, Dubrovskaya I K, 1994. Staryi Kikhpinych Crater: state in 1980-1989. Volc Seism, 16: 19-33 (English translation).

Kozhemyaka N N, 1995. Active volcanoes of Kamchatka: types and growth time of cones, total volumes of erupted material, productivity, and composition of rocks. Volc Seism, 16: 581-594 (English translation).

Ponomareva V V, Tsyurupa A A, 1985. Extended liquid acidic lava flows at Krasheninnikov volcano. Volc Seism, 1985(3): 85-92 (English translation 1988, 7: 447-458).

Vlodavetz V I, Piip B I, 1959. Kamchatka and Continental Areas of Asia. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 8: 1-110.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1550 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

East flank of Savich (Krab cone)

1550 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at East flank of Savich (Krab cone)

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

1350 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Savich cone and north flank

1350 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Savich cone and north flank

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
1350 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0900 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Savich cone

0900 ± 50 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Savich cone

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Scoria
0900 ± 50 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0830 ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Savich cone

0830 ± 25 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Savich cone

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

0650 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Savich cone

0650 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Savich cone

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Scoria

0550 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

East side of Zapadny, Savich cone

0550 (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at East side of Zapadny, Savich cone

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Crater	Parasitic.
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow
0550 (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2780 BCE ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Zapadny

2780 BCE ± 25 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Zapadny

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
2780 BCE ± 25 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

2850 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Zapadny

2850 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Zapadny

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
2850 BCE (?)	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

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.

Synonyms

Kichpinitsch | Molodoi Kikhpinych

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Duga

Cone

1020 m

54° 29' 59.00" N

160° 9' 54.00" E

Pik

Stratovolcano

1289 m

54° 28' 45.00" N

160° 15' 30.00" E

Savich

Stratovolcano

1515 m

54° 29' 19.00" N

160° 15' 8.00" E

Stary Kikhpinych

Stratovolcano

1501 m

54° 27' 55.00" N

160° 14' 9.00" E

Zapadny

Cone

1492 m

54° 28' 55.00" N

160° 13' 33.00" E

Zheltaya Sopka

Cone

1506 m

54° 27' 46.00" N

160° 13' 41.00" E

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Krab

Dome

1442 m

54° 29' 17.00" N

160° 14' 48.00" E

Photo Gallery

Kikhpinych is located E of the Uzon caldera and has three edifices, the youngest of which are the central, Zapadny, and Savich (left center) cones. Numerous young lava flows have been emplaced on the flanks of the Savich cone, seen here from the NE. Savich erupted 400 years ago, forming the Krab lava dome formed on its eastern flank.

Photo by Oleg Volynets (Institute of Volcanology, Petropavlovsk).

Three Holocene cones of Kikhpinych are seen in this view from the west with the Pacific Ocean in the background. The distinct brown feature in the center is the Krab lava dome that grew on the E flank of Savich (back center), the youngest cone of the complex at about 1,400 years old. The peak at right is the mid-Holocene Zapadny cone. In the foreground is the Duga cone, which erupted about 3,200 years ago and produced lava flows up to 10 km long.

Copyrighted photo by Vera Ponomareva (Holocene Kamchataka volcanoes; http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/volcanoes/holocene/main/main.htm).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Kikhpinych. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Kikhpinych. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Kikhpinych

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).