Sarychev Peak is a stratovolcano located in Russia, standing at an elevation of 1,496 meters within a subduction zone and intermediate crust setting (15-25 km). According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a recorded history of 20 confirmed eruptions spanning from the 18th century CE into the 21st century CE. The official record establishes an earliest recorded eruption year of 1765 CE and includes activity through the latest reported periods, such as an eruption starting on February 29, 2020 CE.
Historical Eruption Distribution by Century
The historical record of Sarychev Peak documents varying levels of confirmed eruptive activity across four centuries. The distribution of these 20 confirmed eruptions shows that the majority of recorded events took place during the 20th century CE.
- 18th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption (earliest recorded start in 1765 CE with a 5-year uncertainty)
- 19th century CE: 2 confirmed eruptions
- 20th century CE: 12 confirmed eruptions (including a VEI 3 event ending on August 30, 1960 CE)
- 21st century CE: 5 confirmed eruptions (including a VEI 4 event ending on July 16, 2009 CE, and an eruption starting on February 29, 2020 CE)
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) Range
The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) provides a relative scale for characterizing the size of explosive volcanic eruptions based on factors such as volume of products and cloud height. Out of the 20 confirmed eruptions for Sarychev Peak, 19 have recorded VEI observations in the official dataset. Across these observations, the largest recorded VEI is 4.0. Individual events range from lower-index activity, such as a VEI 1 eruption starting on February 29, 2020 CE, up to larger explosive events like the VEI 4 eruption that occurred between June 11, 2009 CE and July 16, 2009 CE.
Frequently asked questions
How many eruptions has Sarychev Peak had?
Sarychev Peak has 20 confirmed eruptions documented in the official record, spanning from 1765 CE to 2021 CE.
When was the earliest recorded eruption at Sarychev Peak?
The earliest recorded eruption in the official dataset began in 1765 CE (with a 5-year uncertainty).
What is the largest recorded VEI for Sarychev Peak?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Sarychev Peak is 4.0.
Where is Sarychev Peak located and what type of volcano is it?
Sarychev Peak is a stratovolcano located in Russia at an elevation of 1,496 meters.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.