Heavy ashfall from Shiveluch volcano creates hazardous conditions in Kamchatka, Russia
Heavy ash from Shiveluch volcano coated over 7 000 km² (2 700 mi²) of land east of the volcano, creating hazardous conditions in populated areas like Ust-Kamchatsk and Klyuchi. The ash spread up to 430 km (270 miles) away, disrupting regional flights and prompting authorities to issue the highest aviation alert.
Volcanic ash produced by eruption at Sheveluch volcano on November 8, 2024. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS
Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka’s most active volcanoes, erupted multiple times on November 7 and 8, producing dense ash columns that rose to 11 km (36 000 feet) a.s.l. The eruptions resulted in almost complete destruction of “300 years of the Russian Academy of Sciences” lava dome.
Powerful pyroclastic flows were produced on the west flanks of the volcano, according to reports by the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology” (IViS) of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
At the front of this flow, other flows began to form lahars — mud flows that occur when hot volcanic material mixes with colder waters, snow or ice.
The eruptions deposited ash over 7 000 km2 (2 700 mi2) east of the volcano, including towns in the Ust-Kamchatsk district and the community of Klyuchi, located 50 km (31 miles) from the volcano.
In the city of Ust-Kamchatsk, located 100 km (62 miles SE of the volcano), local authorities closed kindergartens and schools as a precaution.
“The road approaching Ust-Kamchatsk is covered with a thick layer of ash,” Alexandra Ostrikova of Russia 24 reported. “As a result, the tires have very poor grip on the road. The car easily skids and is thrown to the side. The situation is complicated by poor visibility.”
The Russian Geophysical Service’s Kamchatka branch has issued a warning, stating that recent eruptions suggest a shift in Shiveluch’s volcanic activity.
The current eruptions are unusual for Shiveluch, with the Russian Geophysical Service noting an increased volatility that could signal a new eruptive phase.
This new dome has been growing since 2022 when a series of strong explosions destroyed an older lava dome.Â
Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula is a geologically active region extending into the Pacific Ocean. Shiveluch is 84 km (52 miles) northwest of Ust-Kamchatsk and 50 km (31 miles) from the village of Klyuchi.Â
Shiveluch’s landform is a stratovolcano with a caldera produced by previous explosive eruptions. The current activity stems mainly from the freshly constructed lava dome located within the bigger caldera of the older Stary Shiveluch.
The volcano has a lengthy history of volcanic activity, with at least 60 significant eruptions documented throughout the Holocene.Â
The volcano’s historical eruptions, including those in 1964, have produced pyroclastic flows and debris avalanches that have reshaped its landscape.
References:
1 Shiveluch geological summary – GVP – Accessed November 10, 2024
2 Strong explosive eruption at Sheveluch volcano, Aviation Color Code raised to Red, Russia – The Watchers – November 7, 2024
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