The plume's direction has changed from north-western to eastern under the influence of atmospheric conditions, said the Kamchatka seismological center. Its movement can be distinctly seen on the space photographs provided by the Alaska volcano laboratory (USA).
Ash keeps falling in the northern part of the peninsula. The snow is covered with a one-centimeter black layer in the volcano's surroundings, including near the village of Klyuchi, 40 kilometers away from Klyuchevsky.
The eruption of the Eurasian largest volcano (4,822 meters high) began on January 17. Lava flows are constantly coming down its western and northern slopes. The lava temperature is some 1,100 degrees Celsius. Volcanic bombs are being ejected every 10-20 seconds to the height of 700 meters. Gas and vapor emissions containing ash rise to 4 kilometers.
At the moment the Klyuchevskoi eruption poses no threat to Kamchatka settlements. However, volcanic ash consisting of magma elements up to 2 millimeters in diameter can cause poisoning and other negative consequences. Moreover, ash emissions and plumes are dangerous to aircraft.
