Expeditional exploration of the Kuril Islands in 2020

Abstract

This report provides a brief description of the field work on the Kuril Islands. It was performed within the framework of the R&D theme, projects of the RSF and the RFFR, which are realized in the laboratory of postmagmatic processes of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. Hydrological and hydrochemical works were performed on the rivers draining the slopes and thermal fields of the Sinarka, Kuntomintar volcanic massifs (Shiashkotan Island), and the Vernadsky and Karpinsky Ridges (Paramushir Island). The study of the chemical erosion of volcanic islands and the assessment of the hydrothermal export of magmatic volatiles are the goals of this work. Infrared photography was taken and the total flux of volcanic SO₂ and diffusion flux of CO₂ were measured on thermal fields in the caldera of Golovnin volcano. A detailed hydrogeochemical survey was made on the thermal fields of the Ebeko volcano to study the relationship of volcanic and hydrothermal activity of the volcano. For further analytical work, a large number of water and gas samples were taken and a representative collection of rocks and sediments was collected during the expedition.