Three stages of study of active and potentially active volcanoes on Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands were distinguished: the anterior stage (1700-1935), the new stage (1935-1962) and the recent stage (from 1962 till present time).
This paper provides a new, for the first time scientifically based term of «active volcano». Updated catalogues display active and potentially active volcanoes of Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands. Here we propose a long-term forecast of behavior and parameters of impending eruptions and related volcanic hazards for the typical volcanoes of the 1st and the 2nd stages of evolution.

The actual collective monograph presents the results of both theoretical and experimental studies of the multi-disciplinary problem on volcanic hazard assessment and development of techniques for prediction of catastophic eruptions. The volcanism of Kamchatka and other regions of Russia has been analyzed. On the basis of geological, volcanological and tephrachronological studies including radiocarbon dating, there have been defined certain groups of volcanoes on different stages of evolution. At the same time the problem of determination of the internal structure of volcanic dome using modem theoretical methods and technologies is well investigated. The new techniques of estimation of volcanic hazard were developed. Whenever ti is required, theoretical approaches are confirmed by results of in-field observations.

The book will satisfy the needs of Earth sciences specialists from a variety of backgrounds, volcanology, geo-mechanics, ecology, industrial constuction applications and hazard assessment.

A large amount of unique scientific data has been collected in the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS (IVS FEB RAS) over the past years of investigations of the Kamchatka and the Kurile Island Arc volcanoes. The distributed storage of data makes it difficult to search data and to use them effectively in scientific research. Actual tasks are the integration of data into thematic information resources, organization of data access on the Internet, as well as the creation of tools for their comprehensive analysis. The paper describes VOKKIA and KVERT information web-systems developed in the IVS FEB RAS. VOKKIA is designed to integration and systematization of heterogeneous scientific data on the terrestrial volcanoes of Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands and submarine volcanoes on the surrounding seas including data on historical eruptions of active volcanoes. The KVERT system contains brief information about active volcanoes of Kamchatka and the Northern Kuriles including their hazard; provides collection and storage of operational data of visual, video, and satellite monitoring of volcanoes; automated preparation and sending KVERT releases on volcanic activity. Besides, the article describes the organization of data exchange between VOKKIA and KVERT and external information systems; describes graphical visualization services and statistical data analysis that helps to detect the relationship, patterns and trends in volcanic processes over time.

The paper presents data that describe the Kuril Island Arc volcanic activity over the 2012-2015 period collected using satellite monitoring and visual observations, as well as the results of field studies at the active volcanoes. The authors analyzed eruptions of Ivan Grozny, Kudryavy (Iturup Island), Snow (Chirpoi Island), Chirinkotan (Chirinkotan Island), Sinarka (Shiashkotan Island), Chikurachki (Paramushir Island), and Alaid (Atlasov Island) volcanoes.