Atka volcanic complex reported activity

Event Name : Korovin 1987/3

Start:	March 4, 1987	Observed
Stop:	March 18, 1987	Observed

Flank eruption:
Central eruption:
"Fire", "Glowing", or incandescence:

Eruption Type:	Explosive
MaxVEI:	2
ColHeight:	3600 m

Description: From Smithsonian Institution (1987): "On 18 March at 1954 a NOAA 10 satellite image showed three distinct plumes, each 95 km long, drifting ENE. The estimated vent locations were: 52.38N, 174.15W (Korovin's summit); 52.31N, 174.24W; and 52.29N, 174.21W (5.5 km WSW and 6.5 km SW of Mt. Kliuchef, a cone on Korovin's S flank). More accurate locations will be determined by USGS Anchorage. Just before midnight on the same day US Navy pilot Jeffrey Sullivan observed a southward-drifting ash plume rising to at least 3,000 m altitude, lit by an orange 'flame' from Korovin. Smaller orange flickering 'flames' from two other vents at lower elevation were visible. Two of the vents were ~2 km apart and the third vent was ~10 km NE of the other two vents.

Earlier in the day (at 1300) Julie Dirks and other Atka residents noticed sulfur smells (~18 km from the volcano). Although the weather was clear Dirks did not notice any 'unusual' eruptive activity. On 19 March a SIGMET notice was issued to warn pilots of volcanic ash 185 km on either side of a line from 52N, 175W to 54N, 172W. The warning remained in effect until 0930. Pilots reported that the ash cloud reached 3,600 m."

Additional information from Reeder (1990, Kliuchef): "Lieutenant Jeffrey Sullivan flying his U.S. Navy P3 Electra from Dutch Harbor to Adak at a 8,200 m altitude, noted about 240 km E of Adak just before midnight on 18 March a large orange flame with smoke to the south that was determined from the satellite imagery to be from Korovin volcano. Then, about 5 minutes later, Jeffrey could see two more smaller orange flickering flames that were farther to the south and were at a lower elevation than the first flame. These lower and smaller two flames would have been the two Mount Kliuchef SW flank vents."