Research, Technology

Ebeko volcano woke up on the Kuril Islands - what to expect from it?

On the morning of February 6, social networks and news media flew aroundspectacular shots showing the beginning of the eruption of the Ebeko volcano, located on the Paramushir Island of the Great Kuril Ridge. This is one of the most active volcanoes on the Kuril Islands. It last erupted last year. Then the ash column rose to a height of about 3.7 km, and the plume stretched for 10 km. The volcano came into constant activity in the second half of the 80s, and since then it has been erupting regularly with a break of several years. And in recent years, emissions have become more frequent. So from 2016 to 2018, Ebeka began to erupt annually. At the peak of its activity, it throws out columns of ash and sulfur. According to experts, this volcano has been active for almost 2,500 years. Fortunately, those eruptions that have been observed in recent years do not pose a great threat to the population. However, the behavior of the volcano causes serious concerns among specialists.

Ebeko volcano erupted again on Kurilakhy

What is Ebeko Volcano

Ebeko is a complex conical volcano, heightwhich reaches 1156 meters. At the top of its central cone there are three craters at once, which are in contact with each other. They have a diameter of several hundred meters and a depth of 70-100 meters. In the craters there are thermal springs, hot lakes, as well as cracks from which sulfur dioxide and water vapor evaporate.

Ebeko volcano has a cone shape

The study of the composition of water at the bottom of the craters of the volcano,showed the presence of a large amount of iron, aluminum and manganese. And most of all aluminum. One liter of water contains 435 mg of this metal, as well as 220 mg of iron. The river, formed from streams flowing down the slope of the volcano, carries more than 30 tons of iron and more than 60 tons of aluminum into the Sea of ​​​​Okhotsk per day.

Volcanic activity is accompanied by frequentexplosive eruptions, which result in ash columns several kilometers high, as was the case last year. Despite the constant activity of Ebeko, to which local residents have long been accustomed, the situation that arose last year seriously frightened them and excited specialists.

Each explosion of the Ebeko volcano is accompanied by the release of a large amount of toxic gases.

According to experts, a powerful volcanic eruptionwill cause the melting of snowfields located on the slopes of the volcanic cone. This can lead to mud-stone avalanches that will literally cover the city.

Ebeko volcano eruption could lead to disaster?

Until recently, it was believed that otherhazards, in addition to the above, the volcano does not carry. Its periodic explosions with emissions of gases, ash and steam are associated with the heating of ground (melt and rain) waters by rising magma. They literally boil and burst out under high pressure. As long-term observations show, the probability of a larger eruption with such activity of the volcano is extremely small.

However, the situation changed on August 25, 2021.Then the locals heard such a powerful explosion that windows trembled in their houses, and a column of ash over 3 km high rose into the air. The next day, a group of scientists went to the volcano. Exploring the area with a drone, they found a giant bomb thrown out, which was located at a distance of 350 m from the crater. It shattered on impact with the ground.

Ebeko volcano erupted in 2021 and released large volcanic bombs

Further studies showed the presence of largeballistic debris, the expansion range of which was almost 2 km. Some of them flew up to the slopes of the Unexpected volcano. Let me remind you that volcanic bombs are liquid or plastic clots of lava that are ejected at the time of the eruption.

Volcanic bombs usually freeze in mid-air andfall to the ground in the form of rocks with a hard dense crust and porous structure. Sometimes they do not have time to harden, and then they reach the ground in liquid form, as a result of which they take the form of a cake. Near the crater of the Ebeko volcano, the bombs landed already in a frozen form. Eyewitnesses found several large craters, in addition, piles of stones were scattered everywhere. I must say that at the time of the explosion there were many tourists in the vicinity, but, fortunately, none of the people were injured.

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The release of volcanic bombs indicates thatthere is a possibility of a more serious eruption with the release of liquid and gaseous easily mobile components of magmatic melts. In the case of their high concentration, as well as reaching a certain temperature and pressure, an avalanche-like process of degassing may occur, which will lead to a disaster. To make it clearer what the degassing of a volcano is, imagine a quickly opened bottle of champagne.

Currently working near the volcanoseismic stations and research by scientists continues. They will allow you to accurately answer the question of what to expect from the Ebeko volcano in the near future. Well, for now, it remains to observe such bewitching sights as the current ejection. Perhaps only the ejection of the Ijen volcano can compare with it.