VONA/KVERT WEEKLY INFORMATION RELEASE 12-2017
Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanic Activity

March 23, 2017, 23:30 UTC (March 24, 2017, 11:30 KST)

KVERT monitor 30 active volcanoes of Kamchatka and 6 active volcanoes of Northern Kuriles. Not all of these volcanoes had eruptions in historical time, however they are potentially active and therefore are of concern to aviation.

SUMMARY OF AVIATION COLOR CODES:

KAMCHATKA
BEZYMIANNY, SHEVELUCH: ORANGE
AVACHINSKY, DIKY GREBEN, GAMCHEN, GORELY, ICHINSKY, ILIINSKY, KAMBALNY, KARYMSKY, KHANGAR, KHODUTKA, KIKHPINYCH, KIZIMEN, KLYUCHEVSKOY, KOMAROV, KORYAKSKY, KOSHELEV, KRASHENINNIKOV, KRONOTSKY, KSUDACH, MALY SEMYACHIK, MUTNOVSKY, OPALA, PLOSKY TOLBACHIK, TAUNSHITS, USHKOVSKY, VYSOKY, ZHELTOVSKY, ZHUPANOVSKY: GREEN

NORTHERN KURILES
EBEKO: ORANGE
ALAID, CHIKURACHKI, FUSS PEAK, KARPINSKY, TATARINOV: GREEN


SHEVELUCH VOLCANO (CAVW #300270)
56.64 N, 161.32 E; Elevation 10768 ft (3283 m), the dome elevation ~8200 ft (2500 m)
Aviation Color Code is ORANGE


Explosive-extrusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 26,200-32,800 ft (8-10 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

A growth of the lava dome continues (a viscous lava flow reveal in the northern its part), strong fumarole activity, ash explosions, hot avalanches and an incandescence of the dome blocks and hot avalanches accompany this process. Satellite data by KVERT showed a thermal anomaly over the lava dome all week; ash clouds drifted for about 126 km to the west-north-west from the volcano on 19 and 21 March.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Sheveluch

BEZYMIANNY VOLCANO (CAVW #300250)
55.97 N, 160.6 E; Elevation 9453 ft (2882 m)
Aviation Color Code is ORANGE


A moderate activity of the volcano continues. Strong ash explosions up to 32,800-49,200 ft (10-15 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

A gas-steam activity of the volcano continues. Effusing of the lava flow occur at the north-western flank on the lava dome. Satellite data by KVERT showed a thermal anomaly over the volcano on 17, 19 and 22 March, the volcano was obscured by clouds in the other days of week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Bezymianny

EBEKO VOLCANO (CAVW #290380)
50.69 N, 156.01 E; Elevation 3792 ft (1156 m)
Aviation Color Code is ORANGE


A moderate gas-steam with some amount of ash activity of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 16,400 ft (5 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft and airport of Severo-Kurilsk.

A moderate explosive activity of the volcano continues. According to the data by observers from Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, Northern Kuriles), several ash bursts up to 1.7-1.8 km a.s.l. occurred on 20-22 March; a weak ashfall was noted at Severo-Kurilsk on 21 March. Satellite data by KVERT showed the volcano was quiet or obscured by clouds.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Ebeko

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Dr. Olga A. Girina, Head of KVERT, IVS FEB RAS
E-mail: girina@kscnet.ru
Tel.: +74152202044

Tel. Duty scientist: +79622825253

In Russia, KVERT, on behalf of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (IVS) FEB RAS, is responsible for providing information on volcanic activity to international air navigation services for the airspace users.

KVERT scientists was available in the office from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM (KST) 7 days in week and by phone during the evenings since 2005. KVERT produces daily satellite monitoring (since 2002 till now); analyses information from remote scientific observation stations and seismic data for volcanoes: Alaid, Avachinsky, Bezymianny, Gorely, Karymsky, Kizimen, Klyuchevskoy, Koryaksky, Mutnovsky, Plosky Tolbachik, Sheveluch, Ushkovsky, Zhupanovsky (from the Kamchatkan Branch of Geophysical Survey RAS); and other information to monitor activity at Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanoes.

KVERT web-page (the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS): http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/index_eng.php

KVERT Information Releases at the web-page of AVO (Alaska Volcano Observatory): http://www.avo.alaska.edu
Web-cameras for Kamchatkan volcanoes: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/

CITATION GUIDELINES


For formal scientific citation of this VONA/KVERT Weekly Release, please use the following:
VONA/KVERT Weekly Release, March 23, 2017. KVERT, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/van/?n=12-2017.
Aviation Colour Codes

GREEN

Volcano is in normal, non-eruptive state

   or, after a change from a higher level:

Volcanic activity considered to have ceased, and volcano reverted to its normal, non-eruptive state.

YELLOW

Volcano is experiencing signs of elevated unrest above known background levels.    

 or, after a change from higher level:

Volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.

ORANGE

Volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased likelihood of eruption.

   or,

Volcanic eruption is underway with no or minor ash emission.
[specify ash-plume height if possible]

RED

Eruption is forecast to be imminent with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere likely.

  or,

Eruption is underway with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere.
[specify ash-plume height if possible]