Volcanic activity on the Kuril Islands in 2022

Abstract

In 2022, volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands was increased. Alaid (Atlasov Island), Ebeko, Chikurachki (Paramushir Island) and Chirinkotan volcanoes (Chirinkotan Island, Northern Kuriles) were erupting. A summit effusive-explosive eruption occurred on the Alaid volcano from September till December: two lava flows 2.6 and 1 km long erupted along the southern slope of the volcano and at least 15 explosions occurred to a height of 2.5 to 6 km a.s.l. Ebeko Volcano, which has been dormant since December 2021, in June 2022 resumed the intense volcanic activity characteristic for recent years, characterized by frequent ash emissions. Over 7 months of volcano activity (from June till December 2022) more than 600 ash ejections were recorded, 253 of which were at a height of 3 or more km above sea level). By July, explosive activity increased sharply – 174 events were recorded (51 of them at a height of 3 or more km a.s.l.), which became the maximum value for the entire period of video observations carried out since October 2017. The Chikurachki volcano was characterized by an increased activity, in the period from January till October, at least 5 episodes of explosive activity were observed. Both single ejections and series of explosions to a height of 2–5 km a.s.l., as well as periods of relatively quiet emission of ash-gas mixture of various intensity were observed. On March 22, a single weak ash ejection (3 km a.s.l.) was recorded at the Chirinkotan volcano.

Keywords

• volcano
• eruption
• the kuril islands
• volcanic ash
• satellite images