Klyuchevskoy erupts spewing ash up to 11.2 km a.s.l., Aviation Colour Code raised to Red

Klyuchevskoy volcano, located on Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, erupted at 20:30 UTC on September 6, 2016, spewing volcanic ash up to 11.2 km (37 000 feet) above sea level. Ash cloud was moving to the southeast at 9.3 km/h (5.7 mph), the Tokyo VAAC said.

In their Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation issued 03:58 UTC today, KVERT said that explosive-effusive eruption of the volcano continues. Explosions send ash up to 7 – 7.5 km (22 965 – 24 606 feet) a.s.l. and ash plume extends about 74 km (46 miles) to the east-south-east from the volcano.

The observatory raised the Aviation Colour Code from Orange to Red. 

Ash explosions up to 8 – 10 km (26 240 – 33 000 feet) a.s.l. could occur at any time and ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft, it added.

Last month, KVERT reported that volcanic bombs that were ejected above the summit crater and the cinder cone landed in the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank.

“There are currently 3 active lava flows descending the steep stratovolcano: two parallel ones on the eastern-southeastern flank and a new one on the upper southwestern slope which has appeared about a week ago,” the Volcano Discovery said August 29.

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)

Featured image credit: Klyuchevskoy on September 7, 2016. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS

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