VONA/KVERT WEEKLY INFORMATION RELEASE 21-2017
Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanic Activity

May 26, 2017, 02:46 UTC (May 26, 2017, 14:46 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
KLYUCHEVSKOY, SHEVELUCH: ORANGE
BEZYMIANNY: YELLOW
AVACHINSKY, DIKY GREBEN, GAMCHEN, GORELY, ICHINSKY, ILIINSKY, KAMBALNY, KARYMSKY, KHANGAR, KHODUTKA, KIKHPINYCH, KIZIMEN, 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. According to KVERT satellite data, powerful explosions sent ash up to 8 km a.s.l. on 19 and 23-25 May. Ash clouds and plumes drifted for about 715 km to the north-eastern and eastern directions from the volcano. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was noted all week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Sheveluch

KLYUCHEVSKOY VOLCANO (CAVW #300260)
56.06 N, 160.64 E; Elevation 15580 ft (4750 m)
Aviation Color Code is ORANGE


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

A moderate activity of the volcano continues. According to satellite data by KVERT, a weak thermal anomaly over the volcano was noted on 22 and 25 May; the volcano was obscured by clouds in the other days of week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Klyuchevskoy

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 1.5-2 km a.s.l. occurred on 23-24 May. 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

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


Strong gas-steam activity of the volcano continues. Ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft.

Strong gas-steam activity of the volcano continues. Satellite data by KVERT showed a thermal anomaly over the volcano on 22 and 25 May; the volcano was obscured by clouds in the other days of week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Bezymianny

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, May 26, 2017. KVERT, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/van/?n=21-2017.
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]