Report on Ebeko (Russia) — June 2018
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 43, no. 6 (June 2018)
Managing Editor: Edward Venzke.
Research and preparation by Sara Arav-Piper.
Ebeko (Russia) Ash explosions remained frequent through May 2018, with plumes typically rising more than 1 km
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2018. Report on Ebeko (Russia) (Venzke, E., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 43:6. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201806-290380
Ebeko
Russia
50.686°N, 156.014°E; summit elev. 1103 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
The most recent eruption at Ebeko, a remote volcano in the Kuril Islands, began in October 2016 (BGVN 42:08) with explosive eruptions accompanied by ashfall. Frequent ash explosions were observed through November 2017 and the eruption remained ongoing at that time (BGVN 43:03). Activity consisting of explosive eruptions, ash plumes, and ashfalls continued during December 2017 through May 2018 (table 6). Eruptions were observed by residents in Severo-Kurilsk (about 7 km E), by volcanologists, and based on satellite imagery. The Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) is responsible for monitoring Ebeko, and is the primary source of information. The Aviation Color Code (ACC) remained at Orange throughout this reporting period. This color is the second highest level of the four color scale.
Table 6. Summary of activity at Ebeko volcano from December 2017 to May 2018. Aviation Color Code (ACC) is a 4-color scale. Data courtesy of KVERT
| Date | Plume Altitude | Plume Distance | Plume Direction | Other observations |
| 1-4 and 7 Dec 2017 | 2 km | -- | -- | ACC at Orange. Ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilisk. Explosions on 2-4 and 7 Dec. |
| 8, 9, 11 Dec 2017 | 2.3 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 16, 18-19, and 21-22 Dec 2017 | 3.5 km | 16 km | SSW | Explosions. Ash plume and weak thermal anomaly on 16 Dec. |
| 25 Dec 2017 | 1.5 km | -- | -- | Explosion. |
| 01-05 Jan 2018 | -- | -- | -- | No activity noted. |
| 08-10 Jan 2018 | 2.5 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 11-12, 14-16, and 18 Jan 2018 | 3.1 km | -- | -- | Explosion. Minor ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilsk on 15,16, and 18 Jan. |
| 22-23 Jan 2018 | 2 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 26-27 and 29-31 Jan 2018 | 2.5 km | -- | -- | Explosions. Ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilsk on 29 Jan. |
| 05-08 Feb 2018 | 2.4 km | -- | -- | Explosions. Ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilisk on 8 Feb. |
| 09-10 and 14 Feb 2018 | 2.2 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 17-18 and 20-21 Feb 2018 | 2.4 km | -- | -- | Explosions. Ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilisk on 17-18 Feb. |
| 23-25 and 27-28 Feb 2018 | 3.3 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 06 Mar 2018 | 1.7 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 12-13 Mar 2018 | 2.7 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 18 and 21-22 Mar 2018 | 1.8 km | -- | -- | Explosions. Ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilisk on 17 and 21 Mar. |
| 23-25 and 28-29 Mar 2018 | 2.3 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 31 Mar-06 Apr 2018 | 2.7 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 07 and 11-12 Apr 2018 | 1.8 km | -- | -- | Explosions. Ashfall reported in Severo-Kurilisk on 6 Apr. |
| 15 and 17-19 Apr 2018 | 2.6 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 21 and 25 Apr 2018 | 2.5 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 01-03 May 2018 | 2.8 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 04 and 06-10 May 2018 | 2.4 km | -- | -- | Explosions. |
| 12-14 May 2018 | 2.8 km | 21 km | SW | Explosions. Ash plume drifted SW on 13 May. |
Minor ash explosions were reported throughout the period from December 2017 through May 2018 (figure 17). Minor amounts of ash fell in Severo-Kurilisk at the end of 2017 and into 2018. Ash was reported on 2-4, and 7 December 2017; 15, 16, 18, and 29 January 2018; 8, 17, and18 February; 17 and 21 March; and 6 April. Ash plume altitudes during this reporting period ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 km (table 6); the summit is at 1.1 km.
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Figure 17. Explosions from Ebeko sent ash up to an altitude of 1.5 km, or about 400 m above the summit, on 6 February 2018. Courtesy of T. Kotenko (IVS FEB RAS). |
Geological Summary. The flat-topped summit of the central cone of Ebeko volcano, one of the most active in the Kuril Islands, occupies the northern end of Paramushir Island. Three summit craters located along a SSW-NNE line form Ebeko volcano proper, at the northern end of a complex of five volcanic cones. Blocky lava flows extend west from Ebeko and SE from the neighboring Nezametnyi cone. The eastern part of the southern crater contains strong solfataras and a large boiling spring. The central crater is filled by a lake about 20 m deep whose shores are lined with steaming solfataras; the northern crater lies across a narrow, low barrier from the central crater and contains a small, cold crescentic lake. Historical activity, recorded since the late-18th century, has been restricted to small-to-moderate explosive eruptions from the summit craters. Intense fumarolic activity occurs in the summit craters, on the outer flanks of the cone, and in lateral explosion craters.
Information Contacts: Kamchatka Volcanic Eruptions Response Team (KVERT), Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 9 Piip Blvd., Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683006, Russia (URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/); Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (IVS FEB RAS), 9 Piip Blvd., Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 683006, Russia (URL: http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/eng/).
