Krasheninnikov Volcano Erupts for the First Time in 600 Years — and It May Be Linked to a Massive Earthquake
The Krasheninnikov Volcano erupted on Sunday, Aug. 3, marking its first eruption in 600 years
The resulting ash plume reached about 4 miles in height, but did not pose any threat to populated areas
The eruption may be linked to the massive earthquake that hit Russia less than a week earlier that caused tsunami warnings in multiple countriesThe Krasheninnikov Volcano just erupted for the first time in centuries.
The volcano, located in the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia, erupted in the morning of Sunday, Aug. 3, Reuters and CNN reported, citing Russia's RIA state news agency and scientists.
Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), called it 'the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov Volcano in 600 years,' per the outlets.
According to the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, where the Krasheninnikov is one of eight active volcanoes, the eruption began around 6 a.m. local time, The New York Times reported. At that time, some of the staff at the remote nature reserve were on a research trip at the volcano when they observed gas and vapor starting to spew from its crater, the outlet said.
The resulting ash plume reached a height of over 3.7 miles high overnight, according to the BBC. Echoing this, the Kronotsky Nature Reserve said it sent 'volcanic ash as high as four miles into the sky,' The New York Times reported.
Krasheninnikov Volcano itself stands at over 1.1 miles, per CNN.
The reserve said that the employees were quickly evacuated to safety, and the volcano is too far from any populated areas to pose a threat, per The New York Times.
According to the KVERT, which monitors and responds to volcanic activity in the Russian peninsula, there were no towns within reach of the miles-high ash plume, the outlet said.
Vsevolod Yakovlev, the acting director of the reserve, called the eruption an 'exciting and fascinating event,' in a statement, per The New York Times.
Girina said that prior to Aug. 3, the last recorded eruption of Krasheninnikov was in the 15th century, according to the BBC.
The KVERT head also said the eruption may be linked to the massive earthquake that hit Russia less than a week earlier, the outlet said.
On Tuesday, July 29, a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 7:24 p.m. E.T., about 78 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said in its updated assessment, USA Today reported.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The massive earthquake was followed by an eruption of another volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula: Klyuchevskoy Volcano, which is also the most active, per Reuters.
The quake — which is likely among the top six strongest earthquakes ever recorded, per The Washington Post — also triggered tsunami warnings in several areas, including Hawaii, Ecuador, Guam, Japan and the U.S. west coast.
At least six earthquakes followed, subsequently occurring near Kamchatka, the USGS said. Their initial readings had magnitudes of 6.9, 6.3, 5.4, 5.7 and 5.6.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
NASA races to put nuclear reactors on Moon and Mars
The United States is rushing to put nuclear power reactors on the Moon and Mars, and hopes to launch the first system by the end of the decade. A new NASA directive -- first reported by Politico and seen by AFP on Tuesday -- calls for the appointment of a nuclear power czar to select two commercial proposals within six months, framing the push as crucial to outpacing a joint Chinese-Russian effort. Signed by acting NASA chief Sean Duffy, who is also US transportation secretary, the July 31 memo is the latest sign of the agency's shift towards prioritizing human space exploration over scientific research under President Donald Trump's second term. "Since March 2024, China and Russia have announced on at least three occasions a joint effort to place a reactor on the Moon by the mid-2030s," it says. "The first country to do so could potentially declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States from establishing a planned Artemis presence if not there first." The idea of using nuclear energy off-planet is not new. Since 2000, NASA has invested $200 million towards developing small, lightweight fission power systems, though none have progressed towards flight readiness, according to the directive. The most recent effort came in 2023 with the completion of three $5 million industry study contracts that focused on generating 40 kilowatts of power, enough to continuously run 30 households for ten years. Unlike solar power, fission systems can operate around the clock -- invaluable during the weeks-long lunar nights or Martian dust storms. Advances in technology have made such systems increasingly compact and lightweight. NASA formally committed to using nuclear power on Mars in December 2024 -- the first of seven key decisions necessary for human exploration of the Red Planet. Based on feedback by industry, surface power needs should be at least 100 kilowatts to support "long-term human operations including in-situ resource utilization," meaning things like life support, communications, and mining equipment to collect surface ice. It assumes the use of a "heavy class lander" that carries up to 15 metric tons of mass, and targets a "readiness to launch by the first quarter of FY30," meaning late 2029. NASA's Artemis program to return to the Moon and establish a lasting presence near the south pole has faced repeated delays. The timeline for Artemis 3, the first planned crewed landing, has slipped to 2027, a date few see as realistic given the planned lander, SpaceX's Starship, is far from ready. China meanwhile is targeting 2030 for its first crewed mission and has proven more adept at meeting its deadlines in recent years. ia/des Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
NASA wants US to be the first nation to put nuclear reactor on the moon
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has directed the agency to fast-track plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon. Expediting work to place a reactor on the lunar surface to help power moon exploration efforts would keep the United States ahead of China and Russia, both of which have 'announced on at least three occasions' a joint effort to develop such a project by the mid-2030s, according to a directive dated July 31 and obtained by CNN. If another country were to achieve this feat first, it could declare a 'keep-out zone' that would effectively hold the US back from its goal of establishing a presence on the lunar surface through NASA's Artemis program. The agency's Artemis III mission, currently planned for 2027, is expected to return humans to the surface of the moon for the first time in more than five decades. But the program still has several milestones in order to reach that target. 'We're in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon,' Duffy told reporters at a news conference Tuesday on drones. 'And to have a base on the moon, we need energy.' Duffy's orders also call for an executive within 30 days to lead the program. Politico was the first to report the new directive. NASA has previously worked on similar projects in collaboration the Department of Energy and others, including a fission surface power project that would provide the moon with at least 40 kilowatts of power — enough to continuously run 30 households for 10 years, according to the NASA website. A nuclear reactor would assist with long stays on the moon, but the newly unveiled plans do not yet specify when a base could be built. Lunar surface power needs are at least 100kWe for long-term human operations, according to estimates cited by NASA. 'Energy is important, and if we're going to be able to sustain life on the moon, to then go to Mars, this technology is critically important,' Duffy said. The directive is Duffy's first big initiative since he was named NASA's acting administrator in July, an extra job he's been criticized for accepting alongside Secretary of Transportation, an agency that has had a tumultuous year navigating aviation safety incidents. He also issued a second directive last Thursday that could accelerate efforts to create a commercial space station to replace the International Space Station. NASA will seek more proposals within 60 days, and at least two companies will be awarded a contract within six months of the agency's request for proposals, according to the directive. The order changes the way the agency awards contracts by adding some flexibility. The aging International Space Station has experienced problems with leaks in recent years and is expected to be retired by 2030.
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
NASA wants US to be the first nation to put nuclear reactor on the moon
Federal agencies Space programsFacebookTweetLink Follow Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has directed the agency to fast-track plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon. Expediting work to place a reactor on the lunar surface to help power moon exploration efforts would keep the United States ahead of China and Russia, both of which have 'announced on at least three occasions' a joint effort to develop such a project by the mid-2030s, according to a directive dated July 31 and obtained by CNN. If another country were to achieve this feat first, it could declare a 'keep-out zone' that would effectively hold the US back from its goal of establishing a presence on the lunar surface through NASA's Artemis program. The agency's Artemis III mission, currently planned for 2027, is expected to return humans to the surface of the moon for the first time in more than five decades. But the program still has several milestones in order to reach that target. 'We're in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon,' Duffy told reporters at a news conference Tuesday on drones. 'And to have a base on the moon, we need energy.' Duffy's orders also call for an executive within 30 days to lead the program. Politico was the first to report the new directive. NASA has previously worked on similar projects in collaboration the Department of Energy and others, including a fission surface power project that would provide the moon with at least 40 kilowatts of power — enough to continuously run 30 households for 10 years, according to the NASA website. A nuclear reactor would assist with long stays on the moon, but the newly unveiled plans do not yet specify when a base could be built. Lunar surface power needs are at least 100kWe for long-term human operations, according to estimates cited by NASA. 'Energy is important, and if we're going to be able to sustain life on the moon, to then go to Mars, this technology is critically important,' Duffy said. The directive is Duffy's first big initiative since he was named NASA's acting administrator in July, an extra job he's been criticized for accepting alongside Secretary of Transportation, an agency that has had a tumultuous year navigating aviation safety incidents. He also issued a second directive last Thursday that could accelerate efforts to create a commercial space station to replace the International Space Station. NASA will seek more proposals within 60 days, and at least two companies will be awarded a contract within six months of the agency's request for proposals, according to the directive. The order changes the way the agency awards contracts by adding some flexibility. The aging International Space Station has experienced problems with leaks in recent years and is expected to be retired by 2030.
