It appears that a major eruption is underway at the Shiveluch volcano in the Kamchatka peninsula. Here is the location from Google Earth:
Here is a recent photo (August 27th) showing it building a lava dome in the crater. There is speculation on some blogs that the dome has collapsed and has been blown out.
Here is part of the KVERT release:
Strong explosive eruption of Sheveluch volcano with ash explosions >10 km (>32,800 ft) ASL probably continues. The activity of the volcano could affect international and low-flying aircraft.
Additional photos are available here at the Kamchatka Volcanoes Emergency Response Team (KVERT) website.
From the excellent Volcansim Blog
Reports from Russia indicate that a large eruption of Shiveluch began yesterday. A bulletin from the Kamchatka Volcanoes Emergency Response Team (KVERT), issued at 22:35 UTC on 10 September warns that ‘Ash explosions > 10 km (>32,800 ft) ASL from the volcano could affect international and low-flying aircraft’. According to the bulletin, ’strong explosions’ occurred between around 14:19 and 14:55 UTC on 10 September, with seismic data indicating ash plumes reaching 15000 metres above sea level; if ash plumes are indeed reaching 10-15 km altitude, then this is a sizeable event. The bulletin reports that according to seismic data ‘10 volcanic events (ash explosions and hot avalanches or pyroclastic flows) occurred at the lava dome from 16:33 till 20:25 UTC on September 10′. Whether the activity is still continuing is not clear, and there are no visual or satellite images of this event because of cloud cover.
Tokyo VAAC issued a volcanic ash advisory at 04:40 UTC today reporting emissions at FL210 (21000 feet / 6400 metres) at 02:16 UTC, but giving no subsequent eruption cloud observations. No further advisories have been issued, so perhaps things have calmed down again at Shiveluch.
The Russian press gives no additional information on this eruption, but reports that KVERT volcanologists have said that there is no danger to local inhabitants from this burst of activity.
More info:
KVERT: information releases – current activity summary for Kamchatka volcanoes
Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team – KVERT information page from the AVO
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Crosspatch,
It is obvious that a seismograph is a perfectly suitable instrument for measuring the altitude of an ash plume.
One only has to fly above the plume, throw the seismograph out of the plane, note the time when it enters the plume, and then note the time when it hits the ground. From there, it is a simple calculation to determine the height, assuming, of course, that gravity is constant.
Creating catastrophe
by Ian Plimer
August 24, 2009
“If our climate catastrophists want to twiddle the dials and stop climate change, they need to play God and change radiation in the galaxy, the Sun, the Earth’s orbit, tidal cycles and plate tectonics. Once they have mastered volcanoes, then we can let them loose on climate change. “
Ian Plimer is the author of the international bestseller Heaven and Earth: Global warming – The missing science (Connor Court).
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2009/08/creating-catastrophe
gtrip (20:46:23) :
AGW’s message has become spasmodic.
One day, the Royal Society is seriously considering nuking volcanoes to cool the Earth.
Less than a week later, someone else might be claiming volcanoes are all because of Global Warming.
The net effect on thier credibility is attrition.
Blame it on Big Oil. The town of Esso is 120 km west of Klyuchevskoy Volcano, the tallest in Kamchatka, and active now.
Get a grip people. This is no climate altering event. There are over 50- 60 volcanic eruptions every year. This is just another of your run of the mill VE 3 – 4 event
To have a real effect on climate a volcanic eruption must spew many tonnes of ejecta far into the stratosphere – in fact over 100,000 feet.
The real Joker in the pack at the moment is still Chaiten. Unprecedented, unpredictable and still erupting after 18 months. The eruption dome is getting bigger and bigger and bigger with no sign of abatement. There maybe a very large magma chamber underneath this ever expanding dome. If this dome was to catastrophically drop into the chamber and form a new caldera it then maybe time to go and buy a very thick jacket.
There are in fact 6 interesting active volcano’s on the Kamchatka peninsula at the moment.
I don’t recall much of a mention in the media when Sarychev erupted a few weeks ago. But then, volcanism hadn’t been publicly linked with AGW.
Maybe now we’ll get to hear the BBC and Guardian salivating over the eruption of Shiveluch. Maybe we’ll get to hear how AGW caused all those countless eruptions over the eons. I mean, how else did Vesuvius, for example, blow its stack back in 79AD? Perhaps it was down to all those chariot horses and their hay rich diets? I’m told that garum (a popular but rancid fish paste) had a potent effect on Roman alimentary canals.
Oh happy days…
gtrip (20:46:23) :
Scientists . . . are still working on how to connect an asteroid impact [to global warming] but I am sure they are close.
Try “teleconnection.” It worked for Dr Mann.
Meanwhile, a little ash might counterbalance the El Nino, keeping the Global Temperature steady and hindering the relentless drive toward Cap’n Tax.
Shiveluch is at the junction of two long lines of plutonic activity.
The Aleutian range of volcanoes lies on a beautifully smooth curve that runs between the northernmost end of the planetary uplift that makes the Rockies (Mt Redoubt, Mt Elias, Mt Wrangell), and the northernmost end of the mountain / volcano chains that make the eastern Russian Kurilskiye Ostrova, Japan and the Japan Trench, etc on the other side of the Pacific.
What fascinates me is the incredible regularity of the Aleutian chain, as well as the regular conformation of all volcanoes in the area to this line. From this, I would not be surprised to see a correlation between global COOLING and earthquakes /eruptions in this area, if not a fantastically high correlation, at least higher than elsewhere. And we know there is a correlation, don’t we?
The Mail Online has a pretty good piece about Chaiten:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-563975/Amazing-pictures-The-lightning-storm-engulfed-erupting-volcano.html
And comments seem to all revolve around global warming, esither spoofing, or more seriously:
“Large quantities of ash sent into the air produce localised global cooling, with a smaller widespread effect on the worlds climate. Ash reflects the suns rays very effectively. It all depends how much ash is sent into the atmosphere – enough and global temperatures can take a significant short term dip.
– Mr H, UK, 07/5/2008 11:38
Looking at the pics….thats a wholelotta ash.
JimB
(part of) Volcanic Ash Advisory Text:
.
INFO SOURCE: MTSAT-1R
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: NIL
ERUPTION DETAILS: VA DISSIPATED ON SATELLITE IMAGERY.
OBS VA DTG: 13/0159Z
OBS VA CLD: VA NOT IDENTIFIABLE FROM SATELLITE DATA. WINDS ABV THE VOLCANO AT 13/0240Z FL100 210/19KT FL200 210/25KT FL300 250/50KT FL400 250/49KT FROM JMA NWP MODEL.
FCST VA CLD +6HR: NIL
FCST VA CLD +12HR: NIL
FCST VA CLD +18HR: NIL
RMK: NIL
NXT ADVISORY: NO FURTHER ADVISORIES=
http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/svd/vaac/data/TextData/20090913_SHEV_0135_Text.html
Les Francis (23:49:41) :
“Get a grip people. This is no climate altering event. There are over 50- 60 volcanic eruptions every year. This is just another of your run of the mill VE 3 – 4 event”
Les Francis,
Not a climate altering event, but certainly a weather altering event over a longer period of time.
According to Joseph D’Aleo the NA summer this year was a typical “Volcanic Summer” caused by four medium sized volcanic eruptions.
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joesblog/major_eruptions_continue_at_mt_redoubt1/
In March we had the eruption of Mt Redoubt, in June the eruption of Sarychev Peak which effected weather events all over the NH and now Shiveluch. All three eruptions produced plumes that penetrated the stratosphere.
And there is more to come:
http://scienceblogs.com/eruptions/2009/08/the_ongoing_eruption_at_koryak.php
The Maunder and Dalton Minimum coincided with an increase in volcanic activity.
Spotless Days, Current Stretch: 11 days
2009 total: 204 days (80%) Since 2004: 715 days
Typical Solar Min: 485 days
Connection or Coincidence? Just thinking about it.
For those of you who are interested in the Chaitén eruption, you can find the links
including the webcam here: http://www.seablogger.com/?page_id=11086
This volcanoe will do virtually nothing to global temperature. It is located on far too high a latitude. Furthermore it is located on the side of earth where winter is setting in and some shielding in the stratosphere doesn’t make much difference. It is also totally incomparable in magnitude to e.g. the Islandic Laki in the eightteenth century.
Re: Ron de Haan (06:01:32) :
“According to Joseph D’Aleo the NA summer this year was a typical “Volcanic Summer” caused by four medium sized volcanic eruptions.”
Cool ‘typical volcanic summer’ only in NA, virtually nowhere else. NA is a small island on the globe, please check this.
Apparently this chart is correct for both NA and Holland:
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/work/gistemp/NMAPS/tmp_GHCN_GISS_HR2SST_1200km_Anom0603_2009_2009_1951_1980/GHCN_GISS_HR2SST_1200km_Anom0603_2009_2009_1951_1980.gif
Some research has shown a correlation between solar minimums and earthquakes.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/buvw2tq081013210/
I believe that there will also eventually be shown to be a correlation between solar minimums and volcanic activity. This may be the actual causal link beheind the observed correlation between solar minimums and lower global temperatures, not Total Solar Irradiance or cosmic rays (per Svensmark).
Craig
North of 43 south of 44 (18:29:56) :
Something is up Ron de Haan ….
4.7 2009/09/13 00:13:25 46.789 142.356 55.5 SAKHALIN, RUSSIA
According to: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php
REPLY: That’s over 1000 miles away from Shiveluch, not likely relevant in any way. – Anthony
North of 43 south of 44, Anthony,
You will probably know about this site if you are interested in Seismic Monitoring, but I post it anyway: http://www.iris.edu/seismon/
Richard (22:21:45) :
Ron de Haan (17:42:49) : Status Update: From Red to Yellow
The status has reduced from Red to Orange not Yellow. See here
You are correct Richard, my mistake.
Agreed that Chaiten is the real problem.Also Anak Krakatau seems to be stirring:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090713.html this was back in July,,,
Madman (07:54:28) :
“Some research has shown a correlation between solar minimums and earthquakes.”
I believe Landschiedt’s mechanism that drives solar minimum/maximums is based on the shifting barycentre of the solar system. A quiet sun was hypothesised to occur if the centre of gravity of the solar system lies within the solar limb. If so, there may be a causal mechanism that involves tidal gravity
or something similar.
Ron de Haan (06:01:32) :
In March we had the eruption of Mt Redoubt, in June the eruption of Sarychev Peak which effected weather events all over the NH and now Shiveluch. All three eruptions produced plumes that penetrated the stratosphere.
No sign of a stratospheric plume on MODIS over the last few days.
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single.php?A092560235
RR Kampen (07:48:25) :
It does plenty. It cools the area that is the source of the Arctic Lows that plunge across much of N. America.
RR Kampen (07:52:31) :
Re: Ron de Haan (06:01:32) :
“According to Joseph D’Aleo the NA summer this year was a typical “Volcanic Summer” caused by four medium sized volcanic eruptions.”
Cool ‘typical volcanic summer’ only in NA, virtually nowhere else. NA is a small island on the globe, please check this.
Apparently this chart is correct for both NA and Holland:
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/work/gistemp/NMAPS/tmp_GHCN_GISS_HR2SST_1200km_Anom0603_2009_2009_1951_1980/GHCN_GISS_HR2SST_1200km_Anom0603_2009_2009_1951_1980.gif
RR Kampen,
You have repeated exactly what has been stated in the posting.
We’re talking about the NA (North American) summer.
Your link unfortunately does not work.
For colder weather conditions in the Netherlands you have to wait until the Atlantic cools down a little more but that’s only a matter of time.
It will make the ice skaters happy.
Interesting note.
Monday 24th August 2009
Volcanoes of Kamchatka, Russia
For the first time in 60 years, six volcanoes are showing signs of activity in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Koryaksky, Shiveluch, Bezymianny, Gorely, Karymsky and Klyuchevskoy. The volcanoes are emitting gas, although not all have erupted lava. Activity of Koryaksky volcano has increased. Ash explosions over 5 km (>16,400 ft) ASL could occur at any time. Ash plumes could affect international low-flying aircraft.
Seismicity of the volcano increased in the last day with over 100 volcanic earthquakes were registered near the volcano. About 30 volcanic earthquakes were recorded in two hours – from 22:00 to 24:00 UT on 23rd August. The volcano was obscured by clouds and no visual observations made. According to satellite data (NOAA-17), probable an ash plume extending 50 km ESE occurred at 23:07 UTC on 23rd August 2009. Shiveluch volcano – Activity of the volcano continues with a new viscous lava flow effusing from the lava dome. Seismicity was above background levels all week. According to seismic data, possibly ash plumes rose up to 5.9 km (19,400 ft) ASL at the lava dome last week. Seismic signals correspond to hot avalanches at the lava dome. Klyuchevskoy volcano – Seismicity was above background levels on 18-20 August, and at background levels during other days. Gas-steam emissions were observed at the volcano on 13-17 August, and the volcano was obscured by clouds on 18-20 August.
According to satellite data, a thermal hotspot was recorded the volcano on August 15 and 18-19. Growth of the lava dome continues at Bezymianny volcano. Moderate fumarolic activity of the volcano was observed on August 14-17. Weak hotspots were recorded on satellite images of the volcano on August 15 and 17-18. Seismicity was slightly above background levels at Karymsky volcano on August 14 and 19-20, and at background levels during other days. Visual observations of the volcano on 14th August showed ash plumes rising up to 2.5 km (8,200 ft) ASL. According to satellite data, a hotspot was registered over the volcano on August 15, 17 and 19. Scientists are predicting that Gorely volcano might soon erupt for the first time in twenty two years.
Volcanolive.com
RR Kampen
With a global warming conference in Denmark I think you can be pretty sure you’ll have an Eleven Cities race this year.
RR Kampen (07:48:25) :
“This volcanoe will do virtually nothing to global temperature. It is located on far too high a latitude. Furthermore it is located on the side of earth where winter is setting in and some shielding in the stratosphere doesn’t make much difference.”
It depends how much SO2 has been ejected into the Stratosphere and how it’s distributed. Don’t forget the volcanic sunsets we had all summer and most of the SO2, causing the red coloring came from the Saraychev Peak Eruption from June 12th http://edutube.org/video/saraychev-peak-volcanic-eruption-12-june-2009
“It is also totally incomparable in magnitude to e.g. the Islandic Laki in the eightteenth century.”
Laki was not a Stratospheric eruption but a fissure eruption. A totally different ball game. It ejected a really huge amount of gases for months that poisoned the atmosphere almost the entire NH atmosphere.
The heavy fog that spread over Europe killed people and life stock in the fields from
France to Germany and the famine that was triggered in Iceland killed half the population.
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Iceland/Laki-Volcano-Eruption-Iceland/529
Iceland is a real dangerous wild card as are fissure eruptions.