Karymsky volcano is one of the more active volcanoes in Kamchatka having erupted over 20 times in the past 200 years although it has been relatively quiet since 1982 following a decade of frequent eruptive activity. Periods of seismic unrest have occurred several times in the past 12 months and the volcano emits a continuous steam plume. The volcano is capable of explosive eruptions which can send ash to over 10 km (33,000 feet ASL) and continue sporadically for days or weeks; short lava flows are also a possibility. The volcano is located in a remote part of the Kamchatka Peninsula about 110 km (70 miles) northwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and no towns or villages are threatened. The chief hazard at this time would appear to be encounters between airborne volcanic ash and aircraft.
AVO will continue to monitor the situation in cooperation with the National Weather Service, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Institute of Volcanic Geology and Geochemistry in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
NOTE: Due to the partial shutdown of the Federal Government, the Alaska Volcano Observatory is currently operating with reduced staff. However, we continue to seismically monitor Spurr, Redoubt, Iliamna, and Augustine volcanoes. A computerized alarm system is capable of notifying AVO seismologists during non-business hours should unusual seismic activity occur.
Terry Keith is out of the office until January 8, 1996. Tina Neal is the Acting Scientist-in-Charge and can be reached at 786-7456 (office), 277-6575 (home), or tneal@usgs.gov (Internet).
PLEASE CONTACT AVO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: John C. Eichelberger Terry E.C. Keith Geophysical Institute U.S. Geological Survey University of Alaska 4200 University Drive Fairbanks, AK 99775 Anchorage, AK 99508-4667 OFF= (907) 474-5530 OFF= (907) 786-7443 FAX= (907) 474-5618 FAX= (907) 786-7425 EMAIL= EICH@GI.ALASKA.EDU EMAIL= TKEITH@TARDADDY.WR.USGS.GOV