KVERT reported that during 17-24 September seismic activity from Kliuchevskoi was above background levels and lava from the summit crater flowed down the SW flank. Satellite imagery analyses showed a large and intense daily thermal anomaly over the volcano. Strombolian activity was observed during 17 and 20-21 September, and ash plumes were seen rising to altitudes of 6.5-7 km (21,300-23,000 ft) a.s.l. on 20 and 21 September. Satellite imagery showed ash plumes drifting about 60 km W on 19 September and about 240 km E on 20 and 21 September. The Aviation Color Code level remained at Orange.

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy is the highest and most active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Since its origin about 6,000 years ago, this symmetrical, basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during approximately the past 3,000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 and 3,600 m elevation. Eruptions recorded since the late 17th century have resulted in frequent changes to the morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater. These eruptions over the past 400 years have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)