Krasheninnikov Volcano erupts after six centuries: Russia earthquake to blame?

The Kamchatka Peninsula, home to some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, is seeing a lot of geological changes. The Krasheninnikov Volcano, dormant for nearly 600 years, has erupted, just days after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake shook Eastern Russia.

The earthquake sent tremors across the Pacific Ocean, triggering tsunami alerts and flooding in different areas, including French Polynesia, Chile and California. Millions of people in coastal areas had to shift to higher ground in a precautionary process.

Fears of a catastrophic tsunami – reminiscent of the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Japan disaster – gripped global attention. Fortunately, the anticipated mega tsunami did not materialise, though some flooding and infrastructure damage has been reported.

Volcanic eruptions can sometimes reduce regional temperatures

Soon after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Eastern Russia, scientists confirmed on Sunday that the Krasheninnikov Volcano had roared back to life. It last erupted around 1463. The eruption sent an ash plume 6,000 meters into the atmosphere.

Standing at 1,856 meters, the volcano has been assigned an Orange alert, informing aircraft of potential hazards from drifting volcanic ash. Fortunately, the ash cloud is reported to the moving in the direction of the Pacific Ocean, far from populated zones.

Volcanic eruptions can sometimes reduce regional temperatures by dispersing ash and sulphur compounds that reflect sunlight. But experts note that the incident in Russia is unlikely to cause significant cooling – any effect is likely to be localised and temporary.