Kamchatsky, April 19, 2010, SPA -- The Shiveluch volcano in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka region has erupted volcanic ash to the height of 7.5 kilometres above the sea level, a source in the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Geophysical service told Itar-Tass on Monday, adding that the eruption posed no hazard to nearby settlements. According to the source, as many as 42 earthquakes causing volcanic rock slides were registered around the volcano in the past 24 hours. A temperature anomaly of 52.2 degrees above zero was reported in the vicinity of the volcano's active area, while the ambient temperature was 20 degrees below zero. Shiveluch is the northernmost active volcano in Russia's Kamchatka territory. Its absolute height is 3,283 meters. With its basal diameter of 45 to 50 kilometres, it occupies an overall area of at least 1,300 square meters. There are three elements of the volcano: the stratovolcano Old Shiveluch; an ancient caldera; and the active Young Shiveluch, with an elevation of about 2,800 metres above the sea level. Shiveluch is one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanic structures. It is a stratovolcano composed of alternating layers of solidified ash, hardened lava and volcanic rocks. The current active period started around 900 BC. Since then, the large and moderate eruptions have been following each other in 50-400 year-long intervals. Weak to moderate eruptions lasting from several months to two to three years are characteristic of the volcano's current behaviour. Periods of Shiveluchs activity were registered in 1980-1981 and in 1993-1995. The most recent catastrophic eruption occurred in November 1964. In 2001, the volcano showed new signs of activity, with extrusive dome (viscous lava under its orifice) growing. The volcano is under continuous monitoring.
