https://phys.org/news/2023-11-eruption-eurasia-tallest-volcano-ash.htmlEruptions from the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano sent ash as high as 13 kilometers (8 miles) above sea level, officials said.
There were no reports of injuries, but officials ordered schools in Ust-Kamchatsk and Klyuchy closed as a precaution. Each town has a population of about 5,000. Klyuchy is located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the volcano and Ust-Kamchatsk 50 kilometers (30 miles) away.
The 4,650-meter (15,255-foot) stratovolcano has been active in recent years and released lava in June.
The Kamchatka Peninsula, which extends into the Pacific Ocean about 6,700 kilometers (4,100 miles) east of Moscow, is noted for its array of active and dormant volcanoes, geysers and geothermal springs.
https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=300260KVERT reported that the Strombolian eruption at Klyuchevskoy continued during 20-29 October and a daily bright thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images. Lava fountains sometimes rose as high as 500 m above the summit and fed lava flows that descended the Apakhonchichsky and Kozyrevsky drainages on the SE and S flanks. Phreatic explosions were sometimes generated from the interaction with lava and glaciers on the flanks and caused collapses of older deposits in the drainages. Plumes of the previously deposited ash generally rose as high as 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 280 km NE, E, and SE during 22-29 October, though on 23 and 29 October plumes rose as high as 8 km (26,200 ft) a.s.l. Scientists at the Kamchatka Volcanological Station visited the volcano on 28 October and noted that the cinder cone at the summit had grown. They also observed advancing lava on the E flank that extended about 2 km from the summit to 2,700 m elevation, incandescent material being ejected 500 m above the crater, and avalanches in the Apakhonchichsky drainage. Ash plumes rose more than 2 km.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152037/volcanic-plume-billows-from-klyuchevskoyEruption activity escalated at the Klyuchevskoy volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in autumn 2023. When the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) sensor on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this image on November 1, 2023, the ash plume from Klyuchevskoy (also Kliuchevskoi) rose as high as 12 kilometers (40,000 feet) above sea level. The plume extended 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the east-southeast, reported the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT).
The eruption of Klyuchevskaya Sopka in October/November 2023 was primarily triggered by the movement of magma beneath the Earth's crust, which increased pressure in the magma chamber. This geological activity is typical for stratovolcanoes like Klyuchevskaya Sopka, where the interaction of tectonic plates can lead to volcanic eruptions.
The eruption during this period was characterized as a Strombolian eruption, which involves moderate explosive activity and the ejection of lava bombs and ash. This type of eruption is known for its relatively low-level explosions and continuous lava flow.
The eruption had significant impacts on the local environment, including ashfall that affected air quality and visibility. Communities in the vicinity experienced disruptions, with some residents advised to evacuate due to the potential hazards from volcanic ash and gases. Agricultural areas also faced challenges due to ash deposits on crops.
Scientists monitored the eruption using a combination of satellite imagery, ground-based observations, and seismic activity measurements. Instruments such as seismographs and gas analyzers were deployed to track volcanic activity, while remote sensing technology helped assess changes in the volcano's morphology and thermal emissions.
Authorities implemented precautionary measures, including evacuation orders for residents in high-risk areas and the establishment of exclusion zones around the volcano. Public safety announcements were made to inform communities about the dangers of ashfall and volcanic gases, and emergency response teams were on standby to assist in case of further eruptions.