Read comments

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

Please log in to post messages or reply.

 

No recent messages have been posted.

Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Tuesday Oct 02, 2012 12:05 PM | BY: T

SO2 plume from Popocatépetl on October 1, 2012 (NOAA)

Current seismogram from Popocatepetl (CENAPRED)

During the last 24 h (before 11 am local time 1 Oct), CENAPRED recorded 9 low-intensity exhalations accompanied by emissions of steam and gas. The most important occurred at 15:49 h in the afternoon yesterday and this morning at 05:19 h (local times).
The system also recorded 2 volcano-tectonic earthquakes, both of magnitude 1.1, at 13:52 h and 14:56 h in the afternoon 30 Sep. Additionally, there have been various pulses of very low-energy harmonic tremor reaching a total of 1 h 15 min duration, the most important between 08:25 and 09:05 h this morning.
For most of yesterday and today, cloud cover prevented visual observations, but during the night glow could be seen above the crater reaching about 200-300 m height and increased during the occurrence of major exhalations.
In the morning hours, the volcano showed a plume of water vapor and gas, about 500 m in height, heading south-southeast.
(CENAPRED)

• All news about: Popocatépetl volcano
• Information about: Popocatépetl volcano

Back to news / to previous page

Previous news

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: weak steam explosions (about 1 every 2 hours), crater glow, steaming

Monday, Oct 01, 2012

About 1 weak explosion every 2 hours were recorded during the past 24 hours and crater glow is visible at night. The steam plume was less pronounced and only about 700 m high yesterday morning. [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Sunday, Sep 30, 2012

6 weak explosions occurred during the 24 hour interval 28-29 Sep, and a steam plume is rising about 1.5 km above the crater. [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Saturday, Sep 29, 2012

During the past 24 hours, 10 weak explosions occurred. Glow is visible at night and a strong SO2 plume appears on satellite images. [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: steaming and strong SO2 emission, occasional weak steam and ash explosions

Friday, Sep 28, 2012

5 weak explosions and tremor pulses were registered between 26-27 Sep by CENAPRED. Satellite data show a strong SO2 plume. [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: infrequent weak steam explosions, weak crater glow

Thursday, Sep 27, 2012

Only 5 small exhalations were reported during 25-26 Sep. [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.

---

Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution - Popocatepetl information