KVERT WEEKLY INFORMATION RELEASE 49-2020
Kamchatkan and Kuriles Volcanic Activity

December 03, 2020, 23:37 UTC (December 04, 2020, 11:37 KST)

KVERT monitor active volcanoes of Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands. 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 COLOUR CODES:

KAMCHATKA
KLYUCHEVSKOY, SHEVELUCH: ORANGE
BEZYMIANNY, KARYMSKY: YELLOW
AVACHINSKY, DIKY GREBEN, GAMCHEN, GORELY, ICHINSKY, ILIINSKY, KAMBALNY, 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, ANTSIFEROV, CHIKURACHKI, CHIRINKOTAN, EKARMA, FUSS PEAK, KARPINSKY, KRENITSYN PEAK, KUNTOMINTAR, NEMO PEAK, SEVERGIN, SINARKA, TATARINOV: GREEN

CENTRAL KURILES
GORYASHCHY, PALLAS PEAK, PREVO PEAK, RAIKOKE, RASSHUA, SARYCHEV PEAK, USHISHIR, ZAVARITSKY CALDERA: GREEN

SOUTHERN KURILES
ATSONUPURI, BARANSKY, BERG, BERUTARUBE, BOGDAN KHMELNITSKY, BRAT CHIRPOEV, CHYORNOGO, GOLOVNIN, IVAN GROZNY, KOLOKOL, KUDRYAVY, MENDELEEV, SNOW, STOKAP, TREZUBETS, TYATYA: GREEN


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


The extrusive eruption of the volcano continues. 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 growth of the lava dome continues, a strong fumarolic activity, and an incandescence of the lava dome and hot avalanches accompanie this process. Satellite data showed a thermal anomaly over the lava dome all week; a gas-steam plume extended for 60 km to the north-east of the volcano on 30 November.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc?lang=en&name=Sheveluch

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


A moderate explosive-effusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 23,000-26,200 ft (7-8 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

A moderate explosive-effusive eruption of the volcano continues, the Strombolian and Vulcanian activity is observing. The lava flow continues to move along Apakhonchich chute on the southeastern volcanic flank. Satellite data showed a large bright thermal anomaly in the area of the volcano all week; on 26-30 November, and 02-03 December, gas-steam plumes containing some amount of ash rose up to 7 km a.s.l., and extended for 300 km to the northwest and east of the volcano.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc?lang=en&name=Klyuchevskoy

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


A moderate eruptive activity of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 19,700 ft (6 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft and airport of Severo-Kurilsk.

A moderate explosive eruption of the volcano continues. According to visual data by volcanologists from Severo-Kurilsk, explosions sent ash up to 4.5 km a.s.l. on 28-30 November, and 03 December; ash clouds drifted to the north and east of the volcano; ashfalls were noted at Severo-Kurilsk on 29 November. Satellite data showed a thermal anomaly over the volcano on 28 November.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc?lang=en&name=Ebeko

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


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

A moderate gas-steam activity of the volcano continues. Satellite data showed a thermal anomaly over the lava dome all week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc?lang=en&name=Bezymianny

KARYMSKY VOLCANO (CAVW #300130)
54.05 N, 159.44 E; Elevation 4874 ft (1486 m)
Aviation Colour Code is YELLOW


The danger of ash explosions up to 16,400-23,000 ft (5-7 km) a.s.l. is remains. Ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft.

A moderate activity of the volcano continues. Satellite data showed the volcano was quiet or obscured by clouds all week.
http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc?lang=en&name=Karymsky

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 are 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) of Kamchatkan and Kuriles Volcanoes to using the information system (IS) “Remote monitoring of the activity of Kamchatka and Kuriles volcanoes (VolSatView)”, which was created in 2011-2014 the joint efforts of the scientists of KVERT IVS FEB RAS, the Space Research Institute RAS, the Computing Center FEB RAS and the Far Eastern Scientific Center Planet. IS continues to evolve. KVERT 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 Kuriles Volcanoes.

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

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, December 03, 2020. KVERT, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/van/?n=49-2020.
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]