Remnants of five catastrophic lahars have been discovered, described, and dated by the carbon-14 method. They occurred during eruptions of Avacha (violent explosions with voluminous juvenile pyroclastics) and Koryakskiy (large fissure lava flows): 3500 to 3200 14C years ago or 1900-1500 years B.C. These lahars were much higher in vigor, hazard, and effect on the environment than the lahars generated by the historic eruptions of these volcanoes. -from Journal summary

Deep long-period (DLP) earthquakes observed beneath active volcanoes are sometimes considered as precursors to eruptions. Their origin remains, however, unclear. Here, we present a possible DLP generating mechanism related to the rapid growth of gas bubbles in response to the slow decompression of over-saturated magma. For certain values of the gas and bubble content, the elastic deformation of surrounding rocks forced by the expanding bubbly magma can be fast enough to generate seismic waves. We show that amplitudes and frequencies of DLP earthquakes observed beneath the Klyuchevskoy volcano (Kamchatka, Russia) can be predicted by our model when considering pressure changes of ~107 Pa in a volume of ~103–104 m3 and realistic magma compositions. Our results show importance of the deep degassing in the generation of volcanic seismicity and suggest that the DLP swarms beneath active volcanoes might be related to the pulses of volatile-rich basaltic magmas rising from the mantle.

During the 2012-2013 we have measured SO2 on Kamchatka volcanoes (Gorely, Mutnovsky, Kizimen, Tolbachik, Karymsky, Avachinsky) using DOAS (differential optical absorption spectroscopy). Mobile-DOAS, on a base of USB2000+, has been used as an instrument. The goal of this work was to estimate SO2 emission by Kamchatka volcanoes with the different types of activity. Mutnovsky and Avachinsky during the measurements period passively degassed with SO2 emission ~ 480 t/d and 210 t/d, respectively. Gorely volcano was very active, with intensive vapor-gas activity with gas discharge rate 800-1200 t/d. During the measurements at Karymsky volcano there were relatively weak explosive events (ash plum rose up to 0.5 km above the crater) with 5-10 minutes periodicity. For this time, SO2 discharge rate was ~350-400 t/d. Due to the remoteness and difficulties for accessibility of Kizimen volcano, the measurements were done only once – on October 15th, 2012. 5 traverses have been done above the gas plume. SO2 emission was ~ 700 t/d. On Tolbachik fissure eruption we have measured SO2 emission repeatedly from January until August 2013. The intensive effusion of the lava flows (basaltic andesite by composition) and frequent explosions in the crater of the cinder cone were characteristic features of this eruption. The measured gas emission was from ~1500-2200 t/d in January until 600-800 t/d in August 2013. All measurements were made not permanently, but to the extent possible. Therefore, it is difficult to make detailed conclusions on the SO2 emission on these volcanoes. Nevertheless, this research may become a starting point for the development of the system of the constant monitoring of volcanic gases emission by the active volcanoes of Kamchatka.

Estimation of the sulfur dioxide emission by Kamchatka volcanoes using differential optical absorption spectroscopy.

Monogenetic volcanic fields are frequently located in the faulted area and in clusters which are associated with the particular geometry of the magmatic chambers and structures of the magma plumbing system in the crust. The method of cluster analyses of the spatial distribution and morphometric characteristics of the cinder cones was used in our research of the conditions of origin and evolution of one of the largest monogenetic fields in Kamchat-ka back-arc-the Anaunsky Dol, or Anaun MVF. Kamchat-ka subduction system is located at the northwestern part of the Pacific at the convergent boundary of the Okhotsk and Pacific plates. Today, Sredinny Range represents its back-arc part and is characterized by the wide distribution of the monogenetic volcanic fields: it has more than 1000 cinder cones, which deposits cover the area of about 8500 km2 (Laverov, 2005; Ogorodov et al., 1972) (Fig. 1). Sredinny Range has a complex structure with several volcanic provinces with different geological history and variable composition of products. Anaun monogenetic volcanic field occupies one of the lowest sections of the whole Sredinny Range. The youngest volcanism in this area (according to the geological map, it was formed in Quaternary times, although our geochemical research and isotopic dating shows its earlier age) is confined to the lowered block of basement rocks. Shield volcanoes, volcanic ridges, cinder and lava cones are located on a low-laying volcanic dale. We made an attempt to make a spatial analysis of distribution of the volcanic edifices and to quantitatively estimate the structural control of the magma plumbing channels. Based on a digital relief model (DEM SRTM, spatial resolution 30 m) we distinguished more than 100 morphometrically expressed cinder cones. For them, using semi-automatic mode, we estimated the morphometric characteristics: height, diameter of the basement, height/basement ratio, angle of the slope, volume of the edifice. With time, cinder cones change their shape due to the erosion processes. Therefore, finally the edifice height is decreased while the basement diameter increased. Determination of the morphometric parameters allowed us to compose a relative age scale for the cinder cones located in Anaun monogenetic volcanic field. Spatial analysis has shown that cones tend to form series of clusters, which are associated with the systems of lineaments. Statistically significant patterns in the cinder cones distribution were then compared with the strike of lineaments to estimate possible location of the magma feeding channels.

Fissure eruption on the slope of Plosky Tolbachik volcano continued from November 27th, 2012 until September
2013. It was named as The Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 50th Anniversary Fissure Tolbachik Eruption.
The eruption started from the 5 km-long fissure opening and continued with the intensive lava effusion from it.
During the first two days of eruption the length of the lava flows was 9 km, and lava covered the area of 14.4
km2 (Gordeev et al., 2013). Lava discharge rate at this period was about 400 m3/sec. Two eruptive centers were
formed on the fissure – upper (Menyailov vent) and lower (Naboko vent), and lava gushed from them to the height
up to 200-300 meters. On December 1st, the Menyailov vent activity ceased, and the eruption concentrated at the
Naboko vent. Cinder cone was formed here, and lava flows effused from the base of the cone. Lava erupted from
the Menyailov vent, is different from the Naboko vent lava by higher silica content (SiO2 55.35 wt.% vs. 52.5
wt.%, respectively). That may be caused by the discharge of two levels of the magma chamber, fractionated to
a different extent. Morphologically, lava flows from the beginning of eruption until April 2013 were dominantly
aa-lava type, and from April until September 2013 pahoehoe type dominated.
For distinguishing of the dynamic of the lava flows the following methods were applied. As remote sensing methods
we used different satellite data – for specification of the area covered by lava flows, their length, temperature we
used Landsat 7 ETM+, Landsat 8, ASTER, EO-1 ALI and HYPERION. For time averaged discharge rate (TADR)
and lava flow area determination we used AVHRR data. We detected that in December 2013 lava discharge rate
varied from 120 to 40 m3/sec, and then it gradually decreased to average values 5-15 m3/sec and remained on this
level until the end of eruption. These data are confirmed by the ground-based observations, which were conducted
during the entire period of eruption. At the end of eruption in September 2013, lava flows area was about 36 km2, the maximum length of the lava flow – 15 km.

Concentrations and emission rates of major gas species were measured in August 2015 at Ebeko volcano, a quiescently degassing andesitic volcano on Paramushir Island, Northern Kuriles. Using mobile and scanning DOAS measurements we estimated SO 2 emission from the active crater of the volcano at 100 +36/-15 t/d. Based on the comparison of plume areas of individual fumaroles, ca. 90% of the total gas emission from Ebeko in 2015 was provided by a single powerful vent (" Active Funnel " fumarole) and the rest was shared among low-temperature fumaroles. At the time of measurements, gases from the main fumarole had temperature from 420 to 490 °C and composition close to the average arc gas [1], as shown in Table. Gas species CO2 SO2 H2S HCl H2O T, °C mmol/mol Main fumarole 27.9 23.5 6.1 5.6 936 420 Low-temp. jets 92.2 2.62 0.68 1.6 902 <120 Low-temperature fumaroles (<120 °C) emitted gas enriched in CO 2 (up to 28 mol%, 9.2 mol% on average). Such CO 2 enrichment together with depletion in HCl and sulfur species can be explained by scrubbing of soluble gas species by a well-developed hydrothermal system which discharges ultra-acid SO 4-Cl waters [2]. A weighted-average estimate of the total gas+vapor emission from the Ebeko summit provided 1470 t/d, which includes ~ 101 t/d SO2, ~ 110 t/d CO2, ~ 14 t/d H2S and HCl, and 1230 t/d of water vapour with > 50% of the magmatic component. The gas fluxes measured in August 2015 using DOAS fall into the range of previous measurements made from 1960 to 2012 that used direct methods [2] and correspond to the moderate degassing rate of the volcano.