Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — 6 July-12 July 2016
Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report,
6 July-12 July 2016
Managing Editor: Sally Kuhn Sennert
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2016. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 6 July-12 July 2016. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
56.056°N, 160.642°E; summit elev. 4754 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
KVERT reported that a Strombolian eruption at Klyuchevskoy continued during 1-8 July. Volcanic bombs were ejected 200-300 m above the summit crater and 50 m above a cinder cone, and landed in the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank. A lava flow traveled down the Apakhonchich drainage. Satellite images showed a large and intense daily thermal anomaly at the volcano, and ash plumes drifting 350 km SW, S, and SE during 2-5 July. Video data showed that activity intensified on 6 July; strong explosions generated ash plumes that rose as high as 7.5 km (24,600 ft) a.s.l. Satellite images showed dense ash plumes drifting 400 km SE and E during 6-7 July. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.