Active volcanoes of the Kurile Islands: A reference guide for aviation users

Open-File Report 2008-1162
By: , and 

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Abstract

The many volcanoes of the remote and mostly uninhabited Kurile Island arc (fig. 1; table 1) pose a serious hazard for air traffic in the North Pacific. Ash clouds from Kurile eruptions can impact some of the busiest air travel routes in the world and drift quickly into airspace managed by three countries: Russia, Japan, and the United States. Prevailing westerly winds throughout the region will most commonly send ash from any Kurile eruption directly across the parallel North Pacific airways between North America and Asia (Kristine A. Nelson, National Weather Service, oral commun., 2006; fig. 1). This report presents maps showing locations of the 36 most active Kurile volcanoes plotted on Operational Navigational Charts published by the Defense Mapping Agency (map sheets ONC F-10, F-11, and E-10; figs. 1, 2, 3, 4). These maps are intended to assist aviation and other users in the identification of restless Kurile volcanoes. A regional map is followed by three subsections of the Kurile volcanic arc (North, Central, South). Volcanoes and selected primary geographic features are labeled. All maps contain schematic versions of the principal air routes and selected air navigational fixes in this region.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Active volcanoes of the Kurile Islands: A reference guide for aviation users
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2008-1162
DOI 10.3133/ofr20081162
Year Published 2008
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Alaska Volcano Observatory, Volcano Hazards Program
Description iv, 11 p.
Country Russia
Other Geospatial Kurile Islands
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details