February 1, 2015 - Activity at Karymsky and Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia

Activity at Karymsky and Kliuchevskoi, Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia

In Russia’s Far East, sandwiched between the Sea of Okhotsk on the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, lies the Kamchatka Peninsula. This 1,250 km (780 mi) long peninsula lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is where the Pacific Ocean Continental Plate subducts under the Eurasia Plate, moving about 10 cm (3.9 in) each year. As a result, the area is profoundly volcanically active, with more than 300 volcanoes located on the peninsula, about 30 of which are currently active.

On January 23, 2015 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite flew over the Kamchatka Peninsula and captured this true-color image of activity at two volcanoes. Red hotspots on the white snow mark areas where the thermal detectors on the instrument detected temperatures higher than background. The two hotspots sit at Kliuchevskoi volcano (north) and Karymsky volcano (south).

Kliuchevskoi is the tallest volcano on the peninsula, and it is very frequently active, often erupting in short-lived, explosive outbursts, often with lava fountains. On January 20, an intensification of activity occurred, with near-continuous explosions and lava fountains. An ash plume was reported to have risen up to 24,000 ft (7.2 km) in altitude, and drifted to the west southwest. Lava was flowing down the upper western flank, one source of the heat detected by the MODIS instrument.

To the south Karmysky volcano also shows activity. According to the Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) ash plumes rose from Karmysky on January 21, rising up to 12,000 ft (3.6 km) and drifting southeast. Volcano Discovery reported that moderate explosive activity continued at the volcano on January 28.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/23/2015
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC