Strong explosions at Klyuchevskoy sent ash up to 9 km a.s.l., Russia
Strong explosions at Russia's Klyuchevskoy volcano sent ash up to 9 km (29 527 feet) above sea level around 13:40 UTC on April 23, 2016, KVERT reported today. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Orange.
As of 02:28 UTC on April 24, ash cloud continues to drift to the south-west of the volcano. Its leading edge was estimated to be 453 km (281 miles) of the volcano.
Satellite data by KVERT showed an intensive thermal anomaly over the volcano all week.
The explosive volcanic eruption of Strombolian type that began on April 3, 2016, continues and ash explosions up to 6 – 8 km (19 700 – 26 240 feet) a.s.l. could occur at any time, the agency warned.
Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.
Klyuchevskoy on April 22, 2016. Image credit: Volkstat.ru
More images of recent activity at Klyuchevskoy can be found here.
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. (GVP)
Source: VONA/KVERT Information Release, April 24, 2016. KVERT, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS
Featured image: Klyuchevskoy volcano erupting on April 15, 2016. Credit: Volkstat.ru
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