Explosive Eruption "Likely" At Russian Volcano

By Mark Dunphy - Fri Jun 17, 2011

An orbital view of a small eruption of Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Gas and steam vent from the volcano. The peak of the mountain is brown as snow has melted away and replaced with ash. This orbital view was taken by a member of Expedition 14 aboard the International Space Station.

One of Russia's largest and most active volcanoes erupted Friday sending ash more than 10,000 feet into the air. Officials said a much larger eruption is "likely".

Shiveluch (also spelled Sheveluch) is one of the largest and most active volcanoes on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. It has been spewing ash and steam intermittently—with occasional dome collapses, pyroclastic flows, and lava flows, as well—for the past decade.

Shiveluch has had over 60 large explosive eruptions during the past 10,000 years. Catastrophic eruptions took place in 1854 and 1956, when a large part of the lava dome collapsed and created a devastating debris avalanche. The last significant eruption ocured in late May 2011 resulting in ash being sent to a height of 7.5 kilometres above sea level. The ejection was accompanied by an earthquake at the volcano that lasted more than 10 minutes.

According to Kvert, which monitors Kamchatkan and Northern Kuriles Volcanic Activity: "Explosive-extrusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 32,800 ft (10 km) ASL could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft. Moderate seismic activity of the volcano continues. According to seismic data, ash plumes rose up to 32,800 ft (10.0 km) ASL on June 15. According to visual data, moderate gas-steam activity of the volcano was observing on June 10 and 12; clouds obscured the volcano on the other days of week. According to satellite data, a gas-steam plume containing small amount of ash extended about 16 mi (26 km) to the north-west from the volcano on June 10. A thermal anomaly was registered over the lava dome on June 10 and 12-13; clouds obscured the volcano on the other days."

The Kamchatka Peninsula, located along the Pacific "ring of fire," includes more than 100 volcanoes. While most of these volcanoes are not actively erupting, many are considered dangerous due to their eruptive history and their proximity to population centres and air travel corridors.

Shiveluch (Sheveluch) volcano location. Image Google Maps

The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite acquired this image on September 7, 2010. Brown and tan debris—perhaps ash falls, perhaps mud from lahars—covers the southern landscape of the volcano, while the hills on the northern side remain covered in snow and ice.

SHIVELUCH INFO FROM VOLCANODISCOVERY.COM

Typical eruption style: Highly explosive. Construction of lava domes and large pyroclastic flows caused by dome collapse. One of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes.

Eruptions from Shiveluch (Sheveluch): 1739(?), 1800(?), 1854 (Plinian eruption), 1879-83, 1897-98, 1905, 1928-29, 1930, 1944-50, 1964 (sub-Plinian, large dome collapse and debris flow), 1980-81, 1984, 1985, 1986-88, 1988, 1989 1990-94, 1997, 1998, 1999, 1999-ongoing in 2011

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