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)
Popocatépetl webcams / live data |
ReportsPopocatépetl volcano videosPopocatépetl volcano books | ToursPopocatépetl 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 nearbyPopocatépetl volcano tours
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Popocatepetl volcano news & eruption update
Popocatépetl Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: ONGOING VA EMS to 21000 ft (6400 m)
Saturday Aug 31, 2019 15:15 PM | BY: VN
Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 21000 ft (6400 m) altitude or flight level 210 .
The full report is as follows:
FVXX24 at 14:59 UTC, 31/08/19 from KNES
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20190831/1457Z
VAAC: WASHINGTON
VOLCANO: POPOCATEPETL 341090
PSN: N1901 W09837
AREA: MEXICO
SUMMIT ELEV: 17802 FT [5426 M]
ADVISORY NR: 2019/785
INFO SOURCE: GOES-EAST. WEB CAM. NWP MODELS.
VOLCAT.
ERUPTION DETAILS: ONGOING VA EMS
OBS VA DTG: 31/1446Z
OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL210 N1932 W09952 - N1905 W09837
- N1859 W09838 - N1856 W09955 - N1932 W09952 MOV
W 10-15KT
FCST VA CLD +6HR: 31/2100Z SFC/FL210 N1934 W09955
- N1906 W09838 - N1859 W09835 - N1849 W09958 -
N1934 W09955
FCST VA CLD +12HR: 01/0300Z SFC/FL210 N1935
W09956 - N1906 W09837 - N1859 W09838 - N1849
W09959 - N1935 W09956
FCST VA CLD +18HR: 01/0900Z SFC/FL210 N1934
W09955 - N1905 W09837 - N1900 W09837 - N1850
W09959 - N1934 W09955
RMK: CONT PUFFS OF DARK GRAY VA CAN BE SEEN IN
STLT IMGARY AND ON WEBCAM. VA EXTD WNW UP TO 90NM
FM THE SUMMIT. NWP MDL INDICATES A CONT W MOV
THRU +18HRS. ...ZHU
NXT ADVISORY: WILL BE ISSUED BY 20190831/2100Z
Previous news
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019
Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 21000 ft (6400 m) altitude or flight level 210 . ...
[more]Friday, Aug 30, 2019
Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 21000 ft (6400 m) altitude or flight level 210 and is moving at 10-15 kts in W direction. ...
[more]Friday, Aug 30, 2019
Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 21000 ft (6400 m) altitude or flight level 210 . ...
[more]Thursday, Aug 29, 2019
Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 19000 ft (5800 m) altitude or flight level 190 and is moving at 15-20 kts in W direction. ...
[more]Thursday, Aug 29, 2019
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 20 kts in SW direction. ...
[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.
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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution - Popocatepetl information
