RUSSIA VOLCANOES ERUPT SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH JAPAN QUAKE
A cloud of ash, dust, and smoke covered the region and is rising into the upper atmosphere where winds will carry it due east towards the US west coast, although it may dissipate if the eruptions do not last for a very long time.
The two eruptions occured at the same time as the killer quake in Japan. Eruptions in the region are not unknown and last occured on Feb 8, 2011. Last december 6 volcanoes erupted at the same time.
Scientists note that this is an unusually active seismic cycle for the region, however it is not known if the volcanic activity triggered the earthquake or if the earthquake triggered the volcanoes. Siesmic activity in and around northeastern Japan has been elevated over the past month leading up to the quake.
Kamchatka Volcaoes (Photo Credit- John Space center)
March 11, 2011