Report on Karymsky (Russia) — 3 November-9 November 2021
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 3 November-9 November 2021
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2021. Report on Karymsky (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 3 November-9 November 2021. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Karymsky
Russia
54.049°N, 159.443°E; summit elev. 1513 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
KVERT reported that during 29 October-2 November explosions at Karymsky generated ash plumes that rose as high as 4 km (13,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 135 km E and SE. According to the Tokyo VAAC ash plumes rose as high as 7.9 km (26,000 ft) a.s.l. on 3 November and drifted SE and E.
A powerful explosive eruption on 4 November generated notable ash plumes described in a series of VONAs issued by KVERT and volcanic ash advisories (VAAs) issued by the Tokyo and Anchorage VAACs. On 4 November ash plumes rose 3-9.5 km (10,000-31,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. Satellite images acquired at 1750 showed two large ash clouds, one was 400 x 560 km in extent and had drifted 1,090 km E and the second was 80 x 280 km and had drifted 460 km SE. On 5 November ash plumes rose 3-5.5 km (10,000-18,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and NE. Additional explosions at 1540 on 6 November generated ash plumes that rose 7.5-8 km (24,600-26,200 ft) a.s.l. and drifted ENE, prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red (the highest level on a four-color scale). Observers on Medny and Bering islands reported ashfall. Activity waned, but at 1305 on 7 November more ash plumes rose to 4-4.6 km (13,100-15,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 110 km NNE; KVERT lowered the Aviation Color Code to Orange.
Geological Summary. Karymsky, the most active volcano of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, is a symmetrical stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera that formed during the early Holocene. The caldera cuts the south side of the Pleistocene Dvor volcano and is located outside the north margin of the large mid-Pleistocene Polovinka caldera, which contains the smaller Akademia Nauk and Odnoboky calderas. Most seismicity preceding Karymsky eruptions originated beneath Akademia Nauk caldera, located immediately south. The caldera enclosing Karymsky formed about 7600-7700 radiocarbon years ago; construction of the stratovolcano began about 2000 years later. The latest eruptive period began about 500 years ago, following a 2300-year quiescence. Much of the cone is mantled by lava flows less than 200 years old. Historical eruptions have been vulcanian or vulcanian-strombolian with moderate explosive activity and occasional lava flows from the summit crater.
