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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)
Popocatépetl webcams / live data Popocatépetl volcano videos Popocatépetl volcano books 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. Last earthquakes nearby Latest satellite images
Popocatepetl volcano news & eruption update
Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico): surge in activity destroys existing lava dome and leaves new crater
Thursday Feb 27, 2014 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".
Activity 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. [more]
No 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. ... [more]
Activity 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. [more]
The 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.
[more]
The 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. [more]
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.
List of earthquakes by country / region: On our growing regional earthquake lists, you find current and past earthquakes with many smaller quakes included as well.
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