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Satellite images of Popocatepetl volcano (c)Google Earth View

Popocatépetl volcano

Popocatepetl is one of Mexico's most active volcanoes. After almost 50 years of dormancy, "Popo" came back to life in 1994 and has since then been producing powerful explosions at irregular intervals.
In the past centuries befor European invasions, large eruptions produced giant mud flows that have buried Atzteque settlements, even entire pyramids.

Stratovolcano 5426 m / 17,802 ft
Central Mexico, 19.02°N / -98.62°W
Popocatépetl volcano eruptions:
1345-47, 1354, 1363(?), 1488, 1504, 1509(?), 1512, 1518, 1519-23(?), 1528, 1530, 1539-40, 1542, 1548, 1571, 1580, 1590, 1592-94, 1642, 1663-65, 1666-67, 1697, 1720, 1802-04, 1827(?), 1834(?), 1852(?), 1919-22, 1923-24, 1925-27(?), 1933, 1942-43, 1947, 1994-95, 1996-2003, 2004-ongoing
Typical eruption style:
Dominantly explosive, construction of lava domes. Plinian eruptions at intervals of several centuries or few thousands of years, vulcanian and strombolian activity in intermittent phases.
Popocatépetl webcams / live data
Last earthquakes nearby

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Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: strong steam and gas emission, small explosions

Saturday Sep 22, 2012 09:45 AM | BY: T

SO2 plume from Popocatépetl on 21 Sep 2012 (NOAA)

Activity has not changed much during the past days. there are about 1-2 weak mostly steam explosions per hour, the larger of which produce small ash plumes. The volcano is emitting a strong steam and SO2 plume often visible on satellite. Night-time glow above the crater can be observed.

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Popocatepetl volcano activity update: low and moderate explosions, crater glow

Thursday, Sep 20, 2012

During the last 24 h, CENAPRED detected 44 weak to moderate explosions, mostly steam and gas emissions, with occasionally small amounts of ash. The most important occurred yesterday at 11:25 h and 22:57 h (see picture), and this morning at 00:14 h. ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: about 2 weak explosions per hour, crater glow

Wednesday, Sep 19, 2012

Over the past 24 h, 46 weak steam and sometimes ash explosions were recorded, the larger ones at 12:24 h, 13:56h, and 20:44 h yesterday and 04:59 h local time today. Crater glow is visible at night. [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: frequent but small explosions, strong steaming, crater glow

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012

Between 16-17 Sep, the frequency of small explosions peaked with 120 events, i.e. on average 5 per hour and has decreased to 60 during the past 24 hours as stated in the recent CENAPRED report this morning local time. The larger of the explosions produced small ash plumes. Constant glow above the crater is visible at night (s. image). ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: frequent but small explosions, strong steaming

Monday, Sep 17, 2012

A further increase of Popocatépetl's activity can be observed. CENAPRED in its latest report yesterday evening reported 79 weak to moderate explosions during 24 hours, i.e. 3 time more than the day before. Some of them produced ash plumes rising a few 100 m such as the explosions at 12:14 h and 14:02 h local time on 15 Sep. No ash fall was reported from nearby villages. ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: slight increase of activity

Sunday, Sep 16, 2012

A slight increase of activity can be noted at Popocatépetl volcano. In the latest report from 15 Sep, CENPRED reported 28 explosions during the past 24 hours, i.e. the frequency has more than doubled when compared to last week. ... [more]

Volcán Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City to form North America's 2nd-highest volcano.  The glacier-clad stratovolcano contains a steep-walled, 250-450 m deep crater.  The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier volcano. 
At least three previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano.  The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone.  Three major plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place about 800 AD, have occurred from Popocatépetl since the mid Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the volcano.  Frequent historical eruptions, first recorded in Aztec codices, have occurred since precolumbian time.

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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution - Popocatepetl information