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Satellite and ground observations of the June 2009 eruption of Sarychev Peak volcano, Matua Island, Central Kuriles

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Abstract

After 33 years of repose, one of the most active volcanoes of the Kurile island arc—Sarychev Peak on Matua Island in the Central Kuriles—erupted violently on June 11, 2009. The eruption lasted 9 days and stands among the largest of recent historical eruptions in the Kurile Island chain. Satellite monitoring of the eruption, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, Meteorological Agency Multifunctional Transport Satellite, and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer data, indicated at least 23 separate explosions between 11 and 16 June 2009. Eruptive clouds reached altitudes of generally 8–16 km above sea level (ASL) and in some cases up to 21 km asl. Clouds of volcanic ash and gas stretched to the north and northwest up to 1,500 km and to the southeast for more than 3,000 km. For the first time in recorded history, ash fall occurred on Sakhalin Island and in the northeast sector of the Khabarovsky Region, Russia. Based on satellite image analysis and reconnaissance field studies in the summer of 2009, the eruption produced explosive tephra deposits with an estimated bulk volume of 0.4 km3. The eruption is considered to have a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. Because the volcano is remote, there was minimal risk to people or infrastructure on the ground. Aviation transport, however, was significantly disrupted because of the proximity of air routes to the volcano.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the scientific staff of SVERT and AVO who contributed to the overall response to this significant and dangerous eruption. We acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Japanese, Russian, and American air traffic controllers and aviation meteorologists who, in collaboration with volcanological colleagues, transmit hazard information to the aviation industry in a timely manner. In addition, we would like to thank Rick Wessels and David Schneider of the US Geological Survey for their useful and informative reviews of the manuscript. We highly appreciate constructive peer reviews of Dr. Fred Prata and Dr. Alexander Belousov in the submission process to Bulletin of Volcanology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team, Nauki Street, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, 693022

    Alexander Rybin & Marina Chibisova

  2. University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, Alaska Volcano Observatory, 903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, USA, 99775-7320

    Peter Webley, Torge Steensen & Pavel Izbekov

  3. US Geological Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory, 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK, USA, 99508-4664

    Christina Neal

  4. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, USA, 91109-8099

    Vince Realmuto

  5. Geophysical Institute/Alaska Volcano Observatory, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-7320, USA

    Peter Webley

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  1. Alexander Rybin
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  2. Marina Chibisova
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  3. Peter Webley
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  5. Pavel Izbekov
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  6. Christina Neal
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  7. Vince Realmuto
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Correspondence to Peter Webley.

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Editorial responsibility: A. Harris

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Rybin, A., Chibisova, M., Webley, P. et al. Satellite and ground observations of the June 2009 eruption of Sarychev Peak volcano, Matua Island, Central Kuriles. Bull Volcanol 73, 1377–1392 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-011-0481-0

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