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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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Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico): increasing number and strength of explosions

Sunday Oct 21, 2012 12:05 PM | BY: T

Explosion at 05:34 am on 20 October

Current seismogram from Popocatépetl

In the last 24 hours (19-20 October), 129 explosions and 200 minutes of harmonic tremor in several segments were recorded. When the volcano was clear, most exhalations were accompanied by ash plumes that mostly spread westwards. Incandescence is seen at night in the crater of the volcano.
At 5:34 pm on October 20 there was an explosion at the volcano throwing incandescent fragments at a distance of about 1 km from the lower rim (see picture).
During the morning CENPARED observed a constant emission of water vapor and gas drifting in southwest direction.
Seismic records show a continuous activity. There were reports of minor ash fall in Volcano Tetela community.

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Previous news

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012

During 17-18 Oct, there were 36 exhalations of low to medium strength with sometimes weak ash plumes rising up to 1 km. The larger events were at 12:46 h and 20:40 h on 17 Oct and at 10:31 h local time today. [more]

Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012

52 exhalations of low to moderate intensity occurred during 16-17 Oct. Some were producing small ash plumes up to 1 km high, and ejected glowing bombs visible at night. ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: frequent small explosions with ash up to 1.5 km altitude, crater glow, strong SO2 emission

Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012

The number of explosions has been increasing. During 15-16 Oct, 71 were recorded by CENAPRED. Some of these produced ash plumes rising up to 1.5 km above the crater, notably at 18:05 h local time on 15 Oct, 04:39 h and 09:43 h on 16 Oct. ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update: frequent small explosions with ash up to 1.5 km altitude, crater glow, strong SO2 emission

The number of explosions has been increasing. During 15-16 Oct, 71 were recorded by CENAPRED. Some of these produced ash plumes rising up to 1.5 km above the crater, notably at 18:05 h local time on 15 Oct, 04:39 h and 09:43 h on 16 Oct. ... [more]

Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Monday, Oct 15, 2012

The number of explosions is on the increase again. CENAPRED recorded 48 exhalations of low to medium intensity during 14-15 Oct, some of which were accompanied by small emissions of ash. The largest produced plumes rising 1.5 km above the crater. ... [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