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INTRODUCTION

A Review of the Book

Volcanism and seismicity are the most violent natural phenomena occurring on our planet.

Much in the world is connected with volcanic activity: formation of the Earth's crust, hydrosphere, atmosphere and the origin of life on the Earth, many mineral deposits, hot springs, geothermal resources, soil fertility, environment, natural disasters associated with eruptions, valuable information on geology, composition of materials in the interior of the planet and the mechanism of processes occurring there. Volcanoes are an ornament to our planet.

Earthquakes are generated by tectonic movements in the Earth's interior, as well as by volcanic activity. They are the most terrible natural disasters on the Earth. Protection from earthquake hazards is a national problem for the countries located in zones where the level of seismicity is high. At the same time observations of elastic waves traveling from earthquake foci provide basic data on the deep structure of the Earth.

Volcanology and seismology are interrelated. Seismological methods are necessary for the study of volcanic activity. Volcanological and seismological studies constitute most important branches of basic and applied research in regions of high volcanic activity.

Such region in our country is the Kuril-Kamchatka arc, Kamchatka, and the Kuril Islands. The seismic and volcanic activity in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands reach the highest level to be observed on the Earth. Kamchatka alone harbours 30 active volcanoes.

The scientific study of volcanoes and earthquakes in Kamchatka began in 1737-1741 due to the Second Kamchatka Expedition led by Vitus Bering and the activity of S.P. Krasheninnikov, a famous investigator of Kamchatka. Regular observation and investigation of the Kamchatka volcanoes and earthquakes started in the early 20th century. The amount and level of the work have greatly increased since the end of the 1950s. Studies in the field of volcanology and seismology in Kamchatka reached their peak in the 1970s and later years when the Institute of Volcanology, Far East Research Center (later to be renamed the Far East Branch, FEB) of the USSR Academy of Sciences became the largest volcanological institution in the world.

The author of this book was constantly engaged in volcanological and seismological studies in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands at their height during the period 1957-2003. This has been the work of his life during the past 45 years. The author organized and carried out extensive research (more than 300 publications), took part in important affairs relating to the development of science and protection from seismic and volcanic hazards, participated in public activities, headed seismological and volcanological research in Kamchatka for decades. He was the director of the Institute of Volcanology FEB RAS, and was elected President of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) in 1979. He became the RAS Academician in 1992. *

The author has written dozens of articles, reports and essays dealing with the development, tasks, state-of-the-art, history and the results of studies in volcanology and seismology in Kamchatka and elsewhere in the country. They were published in professional and popular science journals, newspapers and weekly magazines. Twenty two items from scientific and popular science publications and three newspaper articles which appeared in 1973-2002 are selected for this book.

Three themes determined the distribution of the material. First: The history and development of volcanology in Kamchatka and in the whole country, important events, the Institute of Volcanology, outstanding eruptions, — 14 publications. Second: Detailed seismological studies, their development and results, crucial problems of earthquake prediction and seismic safety in Kamchatka, - 8 publications. Third: General questions in the development of volcanology and seismology in the world and in our country, the history of the Russian Academy of Sciences and its research in Kamchatka, — 3 publications.

These themes are in many respects interwoven. Most of the works and activities under discussion were conducted within the walls of one and the same institution — the Institute of Volcanology. That is why we prefer a chronological presentation of the material included in this book. This seems to be the best way for depicting the development of volcanology and seismology in the period of their highest rise in Kamchatka in the final third of the last century upon the background of powerful natural phenomena and great changes in the social life of our country.

The first theme is concerned with significant events in the life of the Institute of Volcanology and in Soviet volcanology as a whole which took place in the 1970s. They are described in publications 2, 3, 4, and 5 (see Contents). Those were the years of when the Institute of Volcanology was at the height of its outstanding achievements. The construction of the main building of the Institute was completed (Fedotov, 1973). There was the largest IV All-Union Volcanological Conference successfully carried out (Fedotov, 1974). The most significant results were achieved in the investigation of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption (1975-1976 and later), these results being among the best in world volcanology (Fedotov, 1984₁, 1984₂).

These papers are followed by a selection of articles on the history, organization, development, achievements and perspectives of the Institute of Volcanology, published in 1980-1990s — publications 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 16. It provides information on the I, II, III and IV All-Union Volcanological Conferences and the organization of the V conference held in Tbilisi in 1980 (Fedotov, Naboko, Sugrobov, Ivanov, 1980). As an example (of many available) showing researches of the Institute to participate successfully in international scientific activity, information is provided on the symposium "The Volcanism of Island Arcs" held in Japan in 1981 (Fedotov, Gordeev, Menyailov, Okrugin, 1982). There is also an account of the history, progress and achievements of the Institute of Volcanology, written to mark its 20th anniversary (Fedotov, 1983₁). Two more articles deal with the history and tasks of Soviet volcanology, the 50th anniversary of which was celebrated on September 1, 1985 (Vlodavets, Naboko, Fedotov, 1985; Fedotov, 1986). The latter article tells about a striking fact from the history of Russian science: the first Russian research work in the field of volcanology was due to D.A. Golitsyn, a noted diplomat and a member of several Academies; it was presented by him in Brussels in 1785, more than 200 years ago! That piece of research was far ahead of its time.

The condition of the Institute of Volcanology, the tasks and perspectives of its research activities in 1989 are given in the report (Fedotov, 1990).

Five publications chosen from a number of articles and addresses delivered in 1983-1989 are mainly devoted to the detailed seismological studies in Kamchatka, problems of earthquake prediction, very important warnings which became the basis for governmental decisions to take preparedness measures in order to be ready for large earthquakes, — publications 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15. There is a review of energetic and useful activities of the Far East Division of the Interdepartmental Council for Seismology and Earthquake-resistant Design (Fedotov and Zobin, 1983₂) and an important address delivered by S.A. Fedotov at a meeting of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences to promote further research in the field of prediction of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in the Russian Far East (Fedotov, 1984₃). There is a review of the history, development and tasks of detailed seismological observations in Kamchatka and the Komandorskie Islands, the 25th anniversary of which was the first of November, 1986 (Fedotov, 1987). Speaking at a General Meeting of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1989, the author reported on the earthquake hazard and the state of seismic safety in Kamchatka (Fedotov, 1989₁). An article published in the journal "Priroda" ("Nature") described these problems, as well as the decisions taken by the USSR and RSFSR Councils of Ministers, and reasonable safety measures, the review being intended for a wide range of readers, including people living in Kamchatka (Fedotov, 1989₂).

The next part of the book includes nine articles and essays published in 1993-2002 — publications 17-25. They are divided into three groups according to their subject matter.

The first group contains an article describing the life of the patriarch and an elder of our volcanology V.I. Vlodavets (Fedotov, 1993). Next follow two papers dealing with the unique eruption which began in 1996 at the Karymsky volcanic center (Fedotov, 1996₁, 1996₂). It was the most spectacular volcanic event of the 1990s in Kamchatka, surpassing the eruptions of such giant volcanoes as Kluchevskoy and Shiveluch.

These papers are followed by two large ones on the 40th anniversary of detailed seismological observations in Kamchatka and on seismological research conducted at the Institute of Volcanology FEB RAS during the 20th century (Fedotov, 2000, 2002₁), and a paper reporting on the 40th anniversary, achievements, works and perspectives of the Institute of Volcanology FED RAS (Fedotov, 2002₂).

The three final papers are concerned with more general subjects: the 275-year history, destinies, accomplishments and contemporary condition of the Russian Academy of Sciences and its research in Kamchatka (Fedotov, 1999₁), the results of the 20-year fruitful activity of the journal "Volcanology and Seismology" (Fedotov, 1999₂), the results and perspectives of Russian and world volcanology and seismology at the turn of the century and millennium (Fedotov, 2001₂).

These works explain the place, significance and role of the work and research covered by this book in Russian and world science, and in the life of our country.

This collection of articles, addresses and reviews is chiefly intended to show the history, organization, development, achievements and vital importance of those plans, scientific matters and excellent research work which have been carried out in Kamchatka since the very beginning of the 1960s.

The present collection of papers has certain limitations. It contains only a part of the author's publications on the problems mentioned above. The range of activity is also limited, comparatively little attention being paid to the work concerned with mechanisms of volcanic activity, geochemistry, geothermal processes, and environmental protection. The gap can be filled by reviews and books of other volcanologists working in these fields of science, and by other works of the present author. At the same time, the book gives a connected account of many important events in volcanology and seismology of Kamchatka since the early 1970s. Some of the papers can now be considered as material for the history of the science. The book contains and demonstrates the accumulated experience, which will hopefully be of interest and use for the younger generation of researchers.

This volume is a second, revised and enlarged edition. Instead of the two 1985 articles from the newspaper "Dalnevostochnyi Uchenyi" ("Far East Scientist") devoted to the 50th anniversary of Soviet volcanology, we give an article of 1986 on the same subject matter from the journal "Vestnik", USSR Academy of Sciences (Fedotov, 1986), as well as the 1989 report on the condition of the Institute of Volcanology FEB RAS and its research published in "Vestnik", FED RAS (Fedotov, 1990). There is also an additional article on the 40th anniversary of the activity, and on the perspectives, of the Institute of Volcanology (Fedotov, 2002₂). Color photos are added to the article about the 1975-1976 Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, Kamchatka (Fedotov, 1984₂). The Introduction is translated into English. 

The author thanks his lucky stars for the opportunity to be a leader and participant of much basic and applied research and organizational activities in volcanology and seismology referred to above, of fascinating events and responsible decisions during the 45 years since 1957. The author wishes to express his warmest and sincere friendly feelings, deep gratitude to many of his associates and hundreds of colleagues. He extremely appreciates their long-term, enormous, helpful and essential work.

The author is sincerely grateful to the researchers of the Institute of Volcanology FEB RAS: Ivan F. Delemen, Yury D. Matvienko, Dmitry V. Melnikov, Lyudmila G. Osipenko and Alexander V. Sokorenko for their large work in preparing this book for the press.

This second edition has been made possible through the strong support given by the Governor of Kamchatka Mikhail B. Mashkovtsev with the benevolent assistance of the Kamchatka State University of Education and of the "Novaya Kniga" holding company.

This book is dedicated to the memorable date - the 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Volcanology, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Academician, Russian Academy of Sciences                    Sergey A. Fedotov

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