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High activity of Volcano Plosky Tolbachik recorded by satellite

The eruption is described by scientists as "outstanding"

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, February 6 (Itar-Tass) - A satellite has recorded high activity of Kamchatka's Volcano Plosky Tolbachik. The giant is spewing lava on its slope in the southeast direction, the SCANEX technical centre reported on Wednesday. Its scientists monitor the eruption with the use of SPOT 5, UK-DMC2 and RADARSAT-1 optical and radar satellites.

The eruption is described by scientists as "outstanding".

The Kamchatka office of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences told Itar-Tass that Plosky Tolbachik, which began to erupt on November 27 last year after 36 years of "sleeping", remained highly active. The seismological stations record vibration of the giant with an amplitude of up to 4.84 micrometres a second. There is a thermal anomaly in the eruption area with the temperature of more than 65 degrees Centigrade, while the environmental temperature is 26 degrees below zero.

The volcano is enveloped with thick clouds, and the eruption is not seen. But when it is clear at night, a glow is seen over the lava flows in Tolbachinsky Dol,

The KVERT Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team has given an "orange" aviation code to the Plosky Tolbachik eruption, warning about the danger from its ash and gases for flights. The volcano is not dangerous for residential areas.

Emergencies Ministry rescuers remain on duty near the road leading to Tolbachinsky Dol from the settlement of Kozyrevsk to ensure safety for tourists who want to see the eruption. However, according to the latest reports, the interest to what is happening as compared to the first days of the giant's activity has declined.

The Plosky Tolbachik eruption, which began in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Volcanology and Seismology Institute of the Far Eastern branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, became a real gift for volcanologists, though during the first days its lava flows destroyed two scientific bases on its slopes. As an outstanding eruption, it has a name -- "Fissure Eruption in Tolbachinsky Dol Named in Honour of the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology".

Before the event, a name was given to volcanic eruption in Kamchatka only once -- in 1975-76.

Plosky Tolbachik is located 343 km away from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Its height is 3,085 metres above sea level.

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