Satellite images of Popocatepetl volcano (c)Google Earth View
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
Current status:
erupting (4 out of 5)
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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.
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Popocatepetl volcano news & eruption update
Popocatépetl Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: FQT EM to 22000 ft (6700 m)
Fri, 2 Oct 2020, 22:15
22:15 PM | BY: VN
Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 22000 ft (6700 m) altitude or flight level 220 and is moving at 10-15 kts in SW direction.
The full report is as follows:
FVXX22 at 22:04 UTC, 02/10/20 from KNES
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20201002/2202Z
VAAC: WASHINGTON
VOLCANO: POPOCATEPETL 341090
PSN: N1901 W09837
AREA: MEXICO
SUMMIT ELEV: 17802 FT [5426 M]
ADVISORY NR: 2020/862
INFO SOURCE: GOES-EAST. WEB CAM. NWP MODELS.
ERUPTION DETAILS: FQT EM
OBS VA DTG: 02/2141Z
OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL220 N1904 W09838 - N1859 W09836
- N1823 W09910 - N1841 W10010 - N1859 W09926 -
N1904 W09838 MOV SW 10-15KT
FCST VA CLD +6HR: 03/0330Z SFC/FL220 N1905 W09838
- N1901 W09834 - N1752 W09913 - N1833 W10017 -
N1905 W09838
FCST VA CLD +12HR: 03/0930Z SFC/FL220 N1905
W09838 - N1900 W09834 - N1751 W09920 - N1813
W09947 - N1905 W09838
FCST VA CLD +18HR: 03/1530Z NO VA EXP
RMK: VA EXT 45 NM SW AND 75 NM WSW OF THE SUMMIT.
LTLCG EXP THRU T+12 BASED ON NWP MODEL GUIDANCE.
...TURK
NXT ADVISORY: WILL BE ISSUED BY 20201003/0400Z
Previous news
Background:
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
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