History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back THE HISTORY OF VOLCANOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT THE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY IN KAMCHATKA E.I. Gordeyev, G.A. Karpov The history of volcanological investigations in Kamchatka began long before the formation of academic science. But regular investigations of volcanism in Kamchatka began in the 30s of the twentieth century. Academic Service for active volcanoes observation was established on the peninsula in 1935, nearly 200 years after the Vitus Bering expedition and the S.P. Krasheninnikov investigations. Volcanic Observatory was established in Klyuchi Settlement. The Academician of the Soviet Academy of Sciences F.Yu. Levinson-Lessing became the director of the observatory and the head of it became the geologist V.I. Vlodavets. Academician F.Yu. Levinsonom-Lessing defi ned the functions of Volcanic Observatory: monitoring of volcanic processes dynamics, geochemical studies implementation, data on volcanic activity nature and types of eruptions collection and systematization, eruptive products characteristic features investigation, data on Kamchatka volcanoes activity in historical time revealing, eruption forecasting and volcanic zoning methods development. Observations and scientifi c investigations of such Volcanic Observatory researchers as Vlodavets V.I., B.I. Piip, S.I. Naboko, G.S. Gorshkov, P.I. Tokarev, E.K. Marhinin, I.I. Guschenko became the national and world volcanology gold fund. Their works defi ned main research directions. Well-known A.E. Svyatlovsky, A.N. Sirin, K.M. Timerbaeva, G.E. Bogoyavlenskaya, B.V. Ivanov, I.A. Menyaylov, I.T. Kirsanov , Yu.M. Dubik, V.A. Ermakov and others scientists worked at Volcanic Observatory. They developed different research methods, classifi ed volcanic events, investigated volcanic processes dynamics. Institute of Volcanology of the Siberian Branch of the USSR was established in 1962 on the basis of Kamchatka Volcanic Observatory, Kamchatka Geological and Geophysical Observatory of the Siberian Branch of the USSR and Pauzhetskaya Control and Observation Geothermal Station. It immediately became the largest volcanological institute in the world. Since that time, systematic studies of volcanism on the territory of Kamchatka and the Kuril island Arc are carried out. Until 1970, the Institute was subordinate to the Siberian Branch of the USSR. From 1971 it became a part of the Far Eastern Scientifi c Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The institute quickly passed the formation stage and launched a wide range of activities in all major volcanic regions of Kamchatka and the Kuriles. Until 1991 the Institute of Volcanology, in which worked more than 600 people, comprised fi ve scientific departments: Volcanism and Geology, Geophysics, Seismology and Earthquake prediction with Computing Centre, Geothermics and Geochemistry, Physical and Chemical methods of research. During this period we formed the fi rst principles for an integrated approach in volcanic phenomena investigation; studied all major volcanic regions of Kamchatka; revealed the scale of modern and ancient volcanism of Kamchatka; studied the field of modern hydro-therms, obtained the fi rst data on volcanoes mantle sources; and proved the important role of volcanism in formation of the Earth's crust, atmosphere and hydrosphere. On the basis of the research vessel «Volcanolog» the scientists of the institute started to study underwater volcanic activity. The level of international cooperation was extremely high at that period of time. Unfortunately, in 1991 the institute was divided into three separate research units: the Institute of Volcanology, the Institute of Volcanic Geology and Geochemistry and the Research Geo-technological Center. However, investigations of the main research areas were continued. In 2004, two research units were reunited again under the name of Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. In 2017, the Institute will celebrate its 55th anniversary. The scientists of the institute made quite a lot. This article is dedicated to these great people. Keywords: Volcano observatory; Institute volcanology; volcanic eruption; earthquakes; geothermal energy; earthquake prediction. Contacts: Е-mail: gordeev@kscnet.ru Pp. 03-15.