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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) activity update

Friday Nov 02, 2012 12:05 PM | BY: T

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

In the last 24 h (October 30 to November 1) the monitoring system of Popocatepetl recorded 41 exhalations of low to moderate intensity, accompanied by emissions of steam, gas and probably minor amounts of ash.
The most important occurred 30 Oct at 11:52 h, 14:00 h and 20:19 h and 1 Nov morning at 00:32 h, 02:25 h, 04:09 h and 5:52 h local time.
Additionally, there were 25 minutes of low-amplitude harmonic tremor on 30 Oct between 11:30 and 13:00 h.
The cloudy conditions in the area prevent to observe volcano most of the time. Glow was sometimes visible at night.

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Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Wednesday, Oct 31, 2012

In the last 24 h during 29-30 Oct, there were 38 exhalations of low to moderate intensity, accompanied by emissions of steam, gas and occasionally minor amounts of ash. ... [more]

Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Tuesday, Oct 30, 2012

During 28-29 Oct, the monitoring system of Popocatepetl volcano registered 35 exhalations of low to moderate intensity, accompanied by emissions of steam, gas and occasionally minor amounts of ash, the most important occurred at 21:33 pm on 28 Oct, at 5:01 am and at 9:27 am on 29 Oct. ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Monday, Oct 29, 2012

After a slight increase in activity last week, Popo has been calmer during 27-28 Oct with only about 1 weak explosion per hour, some of which contained small amounts of ash. ... [more]

Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico): increase of explosion frequency

Sunday, Oct 28, 2012

During 26-27 Oct, the monitoring system of Popocatepetl recorded 48 exhalations of low to moderate intensity, accompanied by steam, gas and some amounts of ash. ... [more]

Popocatepetl volcano (Central Mexico) activity update

Friday, Oct 26, 2012

During 25-26 Oct, 70 explosions of low to moderate intensity occurred, several of which produced ash clouds reaching a height between 1.5 and 2 km above the crater. During the night glow was observed and some explosions ejected incandescent bombs to the outer flanks of the crater (see image). [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