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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Posted By: Andrew [109.157.205.215] on Feb 22, 2013 01:24PM
Duration
How long did this last for
Posted By: Big Mike [72.193.45.86] on Nov 15, 2012 07:37PM
quake 6.0 not far from this volcano
Posted: Nov 15, 2012 2:01 AM PST
Updated: Nov 15, 2012 4:21 AM PST
MEXICO CITY (AP) - A magnitude-6.0 earthquake set off alarms in Mexico's capital Today
The number of weak explosions has picked up again with 26 events recorded between 24-25 Sep. Also, yesterday at 11:54 h, an earthquake with magnitude M 1.7 occurred. ...more
During most of the time the volcano is shredded in clouds, but today at dawn one could be seen a little glow on the crater rim and later an emission of water vapor and gas (see image). [less]
The frequency of explosions has drastically dropped to only about one every 3-4 hours, but lava glow above the crater and strong SO2 emissions indicate that lava continues slowly to rise at the volcano and build up the lava dome in the crater.
Over the past 24 h, only 5 weak explosions were detected from Popocatépetl. The volcano continues to emit a strong steam and SO2 plume, though, sign that activity continues.
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.
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
A continuous plume of water vapor and gas that reaches approximately 900 m height is seen above the volcano. [less]
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.
Popo with glow from the summit seen early on 17 Aug (CENAPRED)
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
Episodes of harmonic tremor and an M1.6 earthquake at 22:23 lasat night local time were reported as well. [less]
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
Early esterday, glow was seen above the crater and during times when the volcano's summit was visible, there was a constant steam plume rising 600 m. The current seismogram shows that some elevated activity continues today as well. [less]
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
The more energetic explosions were on at 12:36 h, 20:12 h, 22:13 h and 22:47 h local time on 14 Sep and at 06:50 h yesterday, and produced small ash plumes rising up to 1 km. Episodes of volcanic tremor occurred as well, the observatory notes. [less]
Popo with glow from the summit seen early on 14 Sep (CENAPRED)
Weak steam and sometimes ash explosions continue about every 2-3 hours. Otherwise, a strong steam plume is being emitted and satellite imagery show that there is still a lot of SO2 production from the volcano. At night, glow from the crater is visible, suggesting that the lava dome continues to grow slowly.
A strong SO2 plume could be seen on NOAA's satellite image yesterday. The activity remains stable and at low levels. CENAPRED reports steaming and about 10 small explosions per day.
10 weak explosions were registered during the past 24 hours, but it was not possible to see whether they contained ash. The largest were at 20:01h, 20:42h yesterday and this morning at 10:39h local time. CENAPRED also recorded weak tremor pulses and some small quakes are visible on the current seismogram.
No change has occurred at Popo. CENAPRED recorded 28 weak explosions during 24 hours. When the volcano is not hidden in clouds, a strong steam plume is visible.
The number of weak steam explosions has increased to slightly more than one per hour again, but direct observations were not possible due to cloud cover. NOAA's satellite images show a significant SO2 plume from the volcano as usual.
Over the past 24 hours, weak mostly steam explosions occur at an rate of 1 every 2-3 hours. At night, glowing material ejected during such explosions can be sometimes seen.
Activity has remained stable with about 1 weak mostly steam explosion per hour. The crater is weakly glowing at night suggesting that slow growth of the lava dome continues. A significant SO2 plume is being emitted.
Activity has been stable with relatively few and weak explosions of mostly steam (about 1 per hour). CENAPRED decreased the alert level of Popocatépetl to Yellow Phase 2.
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.
