KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Klyuchevskoy was first identified on 13 November and was visible daily through 20 November. An explosive Strombolian eruption began at 2330 local time on 17 November, the same day that the thermal anomaly intensified. Gas-and-steam plumes drifted SE. The Strombolian eruption and gas emissions persisted; KVERT raised the Aviation Color Code to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale) on 20 November.

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)