Try our free app!
 Our expert volcanologists and photographers offer unique travel experiences: volcano expeditions, photo tours, and relaxed walking & study tours. Guaranteed tours
: spaces available / : guaranteed / : few spaces left / : booked out
|
|
 Satellite images of Popocatepetl volcano (c)Google Earth View
Stratovolcano 5426 m / 17,802 ft
Central Mexico, 19.02°N / -98.62°W
Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)
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 volcano tours: Popocatépetl Volcano Special (tour to see the ongoing eruption of Mexico's most active volcano)
Popocatepetl volcano news & eruption updatePopocatépetl volcano (Mexico): surge in activity destroys existing lava dome and leaves new craterThu, 27 Feb 2014, 07:20 07:20 AM | BY: T  Aerial view of Popocatépetl's summit with the new pit crater (image: CENAPRED)
The volcano's activity increased yesterday. CENAPRED counted no less than 544 small to moderate emissions during the 24 hours between 25-26 Feb. An overflight with the support of the Navy yesterday afternoon showed that the most recent lava dome (number 48) had been destroyed by this activity. At its place, a new funnel shaped pit, approx 80 m deep was seen. At the bottom of this crater, a new lava dome of 20-30 m diameter already made its appearance. The elevated activity had been preceded by volcano-tectonic earthquakes of magnitude 2.6 and 1.6 yesterday and the day before. The volcano's alert level remains unchanged at "Yellow phase 2". Previous newsActivity at the volcano has remained unchanged and is currently low. The number of explosive emissions of generally weak size is typically less than 10 per day. SO2 emissions remain elevated and glow at night is visible as a further indicator that magma continues to rise slowly to the crater. ... read allNo significant changes in the currently low activity of the volcano have occurred recently. The volcano produces a small number (less than 10 usually) weak explosive emissions of steam, gas and sometimes ash on a daily basis, and magma continues to rise slowly to the summit where a lava dome forms. This is evidenced by glow at night, and was confirmed during a recent overfly with the support of the Mexican Navy. ... read allActivity at the volcano has remained unchanged and weak. Only few (less than 10 per day) and generally weak emissions of steam, gas and minor amounts of ash have been recorded. Weak glow is visible at the crater at night. ... read allThe volcano remains at low activity levels with little changes. CEAPRED reported 2 low-intensity emissions of steam and gas during yesterday, and 2 small explosions that produced minor amounts of ash with the largest yesterday morning at 10:28 (local time) producing a plume reaching 1000 m. Crater glow at night is visible. ... read allThe volcano's activity, essentially unchanged over the past weeks, has returned to very low levels, with usually less than 5 weak explosive emissions per day. Crater glow remains visible at night, indicating continuing slow lava extrusion. ... read allBackground: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
First visit to our site? If you havn't done it yet, download the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest volcano news online: Android | IOS
More on VolcanoDiscovery Tours to active volcanoes: Watching a volcanic eruption is one of the most impressive natural displays. We have a wide selection of tours to active volcanoes worldwide at different activity and difficulty levels.  Volcano Calendar 2019: We're proud to present our 2019 volcano calendar: 13 different and attractive images of volcanoes, volcanic landscapes and phenomena taken during volcano tours over the past few years.  Solar Eclipse & volcano tour: A total solar eclipse will occur on 14 Dec 2020 and pass over southern Chile and Argentina. Chile's most active volcano Villarrica is located exactly on the center line where the eclipse will be best to observe. We offer you the unique chance to combine the eclipse with a tour to one the world's most beautiful volcanic areas - the Lake District in Chile. |
