Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — January 1994
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 19, no. 1 (January 1994)
Managing Editor: Richard Wunderman.
Klyuchevskoy (Russia) Weak volcanic tremor at variable levels; fumarolic activity
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 1994. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia). In: Wunderman, R (ed.), Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 19:1. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199401-300260.
56.056°N, 160.642°E; summit elev. 4754 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
Weak volcanic tremor (5-9 hours/day) and shallow volcanic earthquakes (5-12 events/day) were recorded during the third week of January. Volcanic tremor increased in late January to nearly continuous levels (19-21 hours/day), although the number of shallow volcanic earthquakes decreased (1-6 events/day). High volcanic tremor levels continued into early February (16-22 hours/day), but had declined by 10 February to 0.3 hour/day. Tremor increased again slightly the following week (10-16 February) to 0.6-1.3 hours/day; 1-3 volcanic earthquakes/day were registered during that period. Weak fumarolic activity continued in the central crater throughout January and early February.
Geologic Background. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.
Information Contacts: V. Kirianov, IVGG.