Global Volcanism Program

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

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

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

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

300210

550 BCE

2,539 m / 8,330 ft

54.974°N
160.703°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Complex

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
0
382
3,829

Geological Summary

Gamchen is a complex volcano composed of four stratovolcanoes, one of which is of Holocene age, atop a shield-like structure. Yuzhny Gamchen and Severny Gamchen are two steep-sided eroded stratovolcanoes of Pleistocene age. Edifice-collapse events at Gamchen during the early Holocene produced several large debris-avalanche deposits below the eastern flanks. Molodoi, a small stratovolcano with a well-preserved, shallow crater, is located on the east flank of Severvy Gamchen. Barany, a young stratovolcano with a youthful crater 500 m wide and 200 m deep, is located on the SE flank of Yuzhny Gamchen volcano. Barany (also spelled Baranii) has been the source of a young lava field that extends to the east and NE and was active between about 3600 and 3000 years ago. Lava domes are found on the flanks of the volcanoes; the youngest of these is Lukovitsa dome, which formed during the final stages of activity at Barany. No historical eruptions are known from the Gamchen complex.

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.

Andreev V I, Litasov N E, Puzankov Y M, 1988. Radioactivity of the basalt-dacite and andesite suites of the Gamchen volcanotectonic structure. Vulc Seism, 7: 219-233 (English translation).

Braitseva O, Ponomareva V, Melekestsev I, Sulerzhitsky L, Pevzner M, 2002-. Holocene Kamchatka volcanoes. http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/volcanoes/holocene/main/main.htm.

Erlich E N, 1985. (pers. comm.).

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.

Kozhemyaka N N, 1996. Long-lived volcanic centers of Kamchatka: types of cones, growth time spans, volumes of erupted material, productivities, rock proportions, and tectonic settings. Volc Seism, 17: 621-636 (English translation).

Luchitsky I V (ed), 1974. History of the Development of Relief of Siberia and the Far East. Kamchatka, Kurile and Komander Islands. Moscow: Nauka Pub, 439 p (in Russian).

Melekestsev I V, Ponomareva V V, Volynets O N, 1995. Kizimen volcano, Kamchatka - a future Mount St. Helens?. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 65: 205-226.

Ponomareva V V, Melekestsev I V, Dirksen O V, 2006. Sector collapses and large landslides on late Pleistocene-Holocene volcanoes in Kamchatka, Russia. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 158: 117-138.

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 2 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0550 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

SE flank (Barany, Lukovitsa)

0550 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at SE flank (Barany, Lukovitsa)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava dome
- - - -	- - - -	Ash

1650 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

SE flank (Barany)

1650 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at SE flank (Barany)

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

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

Gamtschen | Khamchenskaya, Sopka | Gamchensky

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Barany
Baranii

Stratovolcano

54° 57' 30.00" N

160° 42' 0.00" E

Menner

Shield volcano

Molodoi

Stratovolcano

Severny Gamchen
Zapovedny

Stratovolcano

2300 m

54° 59' 0.00" N

160° 43' 0.00" E

Yuzhny Gamchen

Stratovolcano

2573 m

54° 58' 0.00" N

160° 41' 0.00" E

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Lukovitsa

Dome

Photo Gallery

The Komarov volcanic complex is seen in the foreground in this view from the north toward the Gamchen volcanic range. Komarov, the youngest cone, was built at the western end of a 2.5 x 4 km caldera. It has craters, one at the summit and the other on the upper east flank. The Gamchen massif beyond Komarov consists of three Late-Pleistocene and one Holocene cones. Kronotsky is seen on the far-right horizon.

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

The Gamchen massif, consisting of one Holocene and three late-Pleistocene cones, is seen here from the SE. The reddish Holocene cone in the foreground is Barany and has a 500-m-wide, 200-m-deep crater. Stratigraphic evidence indicates that it grew during several episodes of activity 3,600-3,000 years ago. Yuzhny Gamchen (center) forms the high point of the massif. Kizimen volcano is seen on the distant horizon left of Gamchen's summit.

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

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Gamchen 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 Gamchen. 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 Gamchen. 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 Gamchen

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).