One very important reason to try to predict future eruptions is that more than 20 million Mexican people live close enough to the volcano to be threatened by its eruptions. NASA satellite image and information about Popocatepetl. Additional information about Popocatepetl is available on the homepage of the Cascade Volcano Observatory.
Popocatepetl Volcano News provides additional information about the eruption. Delgado, H. Simkin, T. Skip to main content. Toggle menu Go to search page. Search Field. You are here Home. Background Information: Popo is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, having had 15 eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in AD.
Latitude DD :. It is comprised of alternating layers of volcanic ash, lava, and rocks from earlier eruptions. The volcano is located around 70 kilometers 40 miles southeast of Mexico City and more than 20 million people live close enough to be affected by a major eruption. However, most of the eruptions in the past years have been relatively mild. Geological Survey. Story by Kasha Patel.
View this area in EO Explorer. During 30 March-5 April there were emissions and as many as six explosions detected daily; some emissions corresponded with increased crater incandescence. An explosion at on 31 March produced an ash plume that rose 1. An explosion at generated an ash plume that rose 2 km and drifted ENE.
With the assistance of the Federal Police, on 2 April CENAPRED scientists conducted an overflight of the crater and observed an inner crater that was m in diameter and 50 m deep; the crater had previously been filled with a lava dome, destroyed in January, which had grown to an estimated volume of 2,, cubic meters.
Small landslides had occurred on the E wall of the inner crater. An explosion at on 3 April generated an ash plume that rose 2 km and drifted NE.
Incandescent fragments were ejected as far as 3. Ash fell in the towns of Juan C. Crater incandescence was observed on most nights. At on 24 March an ash plume rose 1. At the next morning a low-intensity explosion generated an ash plume that rose m and drifted NE.
Incandescent tephra was ejected as far as m onto the N flank. Explosions during March generated plumes that rose as high as 1. Crater incandescence was noted on some nights and increased in intensity with some emissions. Explosions occurred almost daily; an explosion at on 11 February ejected incandescent tephra onto the NE flank. Ash plumes during February rose m above the crater and drifted E.
Crater incandescence was noted most nights and increased in intensity with some emissions. Explosions at and on 8 February generated ash plumes that rose 1 km and drifted ENE. At on 23 January an increase in activity was characterized by continuous gas-and-ash emissions, likely related to the destruction of a recently-formed lava dome.
Later that night cameras recorded incandescent fragments ejected during periods of emissions. Activity decreased at on 24 January and then increased again at , with explosions. A series of explosions on 25 January began at and ended at Constant steam-and-ash emissions drifted ENE. Another series of explosions occurred during on 26 January. One of the explosions ejected incandescent fragments m onto the NE flank.
As many as 11 explosions were detected daily and variable nighttime crater incandescence was observed. Explosions on 2 January ejected tephra onto the N flank, and a small steam, gas, and ash plume drifted E on 4 January. A seven-hour period of explosions started at on 4 January and ended at on 5 January. Six more explosions occurred in the evening. Variable nighttime crater incandescence was observed on some days.
The seismic and acoustic network registered explosions almost daily. Ash plumes rose from the crater on 12 November; ash plumes rose 2 km on 17 November and incandescent material was deposited on the flanks within 1 km of the crater. Daily gas plumes drifted SW and NW. Two, four, and six explosions were detected on 21, 22, and 23 October, respectively. Four explosions were detected during October. Variable nighttime or morning crater incandescence was observed most days, and daily explosions were registered.
On 3 October a gas, steam, and ash plume rose 2 km and drifted NW. During a series of explosions on 6 October, material was ejected onto the N flank, not far from the crater. Gas, steam, and ash plumes drifted NE. Variable nighttime crater incandescence was observed, and explosions were detected almost daily.
Gas-and-ash plumes rose 1. Variable nighttime crater incandescence was observed, and explosions were detected during July. Two explosions on 20 July produced ash plumes that rose less than m. Gas-and-steam plumes were observed daily, and variable nighttime crater incandescence was observed. An explosion was detected at on 1 July, and 14 were detected during July.
Explosions occurred daily, and nighttime crater incandescence was observed. Gas-and-steam plumes drifted in multiple directions. On 29 May at a series of explosions generated steam-and-ash plumes, and ashfall in multiple municipalities. Another series of explosions was detected from on 30 May.
Slight ashfall was recorded in Amozoc, Puebla 60 km E on 31 May. Nighttime crater incandescence was noted every night; sometimes the incandescence would become more intense with accompanying emissions. A small explosion at on 21 May generated a plume with low ash content that rose m and drifted SW. During May ash plumes rose 0. Ashfall was reported in Ocuituco 24 km SW on 22 May. From to on 25 May a series of explosions accompanied by tremor ejected steam, gas, and ash plumes that drifted SSE.
Nighttime crater incandescence was noted almost every night; sometimes the incandescence would become more intense with accompanying emissions. Explosions were detected at and on 7 May. The next day steam-and-gas emissions with low ash content drifted SSW. Ash was visible in water vapor-and-gas emissions during May. Ash accompanied the emissions during May. Gas-and-steam plumes were visible, although cloud cover mostly prevented observations. Nighttime crater incandescence was often noted.
A series of explosions during on 30 April ejected incandescent tephra m onto the NE flank. Sequences of explosions were also detected during on 1 May and during on 2 May. Explosions were also detected during May. Cloud cover sometimes prevented observations of the crater, although gas plumes and nighttime crater incandescence were noted daily.
On 22 April an explosion at produced diffuse gas and water vapor emissions. Explosions at and generated ash plumes. Cloud cover sometimes prevented observations of the crater, although ash plumes and nighttime crater incandescence were often noted.
Explosions at and on 15 April generated ash plumes that rose 1 km and drifted E. On 17 April an explosion was detected as well as a steam-and-gas emission with low ash content that rose km. The next day, on 18 April, six explosions generated steam-and-gas plumes with small amounts of ash that rose as high as 1.
A series of smaller, low-intensity explosions between and produced emissions of steam, gas, and small amounts of ash that rose m and drifted NE. Some incandescent tephra fell m away onto the N and NE flanks. On 19 April seven explosions generated steam-and-gas plumes with small amounts of ash that rose as high as 1.
At on 20 April an explosion produced an ash plume that rose 3 km and drifted E. Incandescent tephra was ejected m E. On 21 April three explosions generated plumes with some ash that rose m.
Also during this period 93 explosions occurred, and 12 minutes of harmonic tremor were detected on 8 April. During April the seismic network recorded gas, steam, and ash emissions, and nighttime crater incandescence was often noted. On 9 and 10 April the network detected 41 and minutes of harmonic tremor, respectively.
During an overflight on 10 April scientists confirmed that a lava dome was emplaced in the bottom of the crater between 24 March and 4 April.
The lava dome was at least m in diameter and 30 m thick. The surface of the dome had concentric fractures and the central part was collapsed from deflation. Explosions were detected during April. Cloud cover often prevented observations of the crater, although ash plumes and nighttime crater incandescence were often noted. On 3 April multiple ash plumes rose km above the crater. A period of harmonic tremor, that began at and ended at , was accompanied by continuous emissions of steam with small amounts of ash.
During April explosions generated ash plumes that rose as high as 2 km; ashfall was reported in Tetela and Ocuituco. More explosions on 4 April generated ash plumes that rose 0. During April explosions ejected incandescent tephra m onto the flanks, and produced steam, gas, and ash plumes that rose 1. Episodes of tremor were detected on 5 April.
At on 7 April an episode of explosions and tremor began. Steam, gas, and ash plumes rose from the crater and material was ejected short distances from the crater. Incandescent tephra was ejected m onto the NE and SE flanks. The last explosion in the series was detected at on 25 March. Additional explosion on 25 March ejected tephra and generated steam, gas, and ash plumes; the plumes rose 2 km and drifted NE and SE causing ashfall in Atlixco, Puebla.
During March the seismic network recorded between 21 and 86 emissions per day that sometimes contained ash. Cloud cover often prevented observations of the crater, although ash plumes and nighttime crater incandescence were noted. Continuous steam, gas, and ash emissions on 26 March rose m and drifted ENE. On 29 March at an ash plume rose 2 km. On 31 March one of three explosions, which occurred at , generated an ash plume that rose less than 1 km and drifted SW.
At on 22 March an explosion ejected incandescent tephra onto the flanks and produced an ash plume that rose 1 km above the crater rim and drifted NE. An ash plume rose 1 km and drifted SE on 23 March. An ash plume rose 1 km on 24 March. Two explosions at on 10 March generated ash plumes that rose 1. An explosion on 11 March produced a plume that rose 1 km.
Crater incandescence at night sometimes increased coincident with emissions. During March there were 45 explosions detected; an explosion at on 3 March ejected tephra m from the crater onto the NE flank, and other explosions ejected material m onto the flanks.
Gas-and-ash plumes drifted NE. On 5 March there were 29 explosions. Ash plumes mostly rose less than 1 km, although one gas, steam, and ash plume rose 3 km and drifted NE. The next day an explosion generated an ash plume that rose 1. A series of explosions on 7 March produced ash plumes that rose km and drifted SW and N. Incandescent tephra was ejected m onto the flanks and ashfall was reported in Ecatzingo 15 km SW. A series of explosions on 8 March produced ash plumes that rose 2 km and drifted NE.
On 9 March a low-intensity explosion detected at generated a water vapor, gas, and ash plume. On 10 March two explosions were detected at and Additional explosions 19 were detected on 25 February. Explosions on 26 February ejected incandescent tephra m away from the crater onto the N and NE flanks. The international airport in Huejotzingo suspended operations to clean up the ash.
Steam, gas, and ash plumes drifted NE. On 27 February explosions generated ash emissions and ejected incandescent tephra m onto the flanks. During an overflight that same day, volcanologists observed dome number 55 which had grown and was filling the bottom of the inner crater. The dome was m in diameter and at least 40 m thick, putting it about 60 m from the bottom of the main crater floor.
The volume was an estimated 1. The volcanologists also observed a small explosion that produced a 1. Two separate series of explosions were detected on 28 February, and incandescent tephra was ejected m onto the flanks. Steam-and-gas plumes rose from the crater during March. Steam, gas, and ash plumes rose as high as 1. Low-amplitude harmonic tremor and explosions were detected. Ash emissions drifted N. Incandescent tephra was ejected m onto the N and NE flanks. Each day during February the seismic network recorded between 47 and low-intensity events, accompanied by steam-and-gas emissions that visibly contained minor amounts of ash most days.
Incandescence from the crater was noted some nights. On 18 February five explosions generated plumes that rose no more than 1 km and drifted NE. A series of small explosions detected during was accompanied by periods of harmonic tremor.
On 21 February there were 22 small explosions, some of which ejected tephra m onto the NE flank. Another series of small explosions, detected from on 22 February to on 23 February, were again accompanied by periods of harmonic tremor. Steam, gas, and ash plumes drifted SW on 24 February.
Explosions were also detected, likely from lava-dome growth. Intermittent nighttime incandescence from the crater was visible during February. During February seismicity indicated ongoing emissions, and incandescence from the crater was noted. A series of explosions between and on 15 February generated plumes that rose 1. Explosions continued to be detected; nine were registered during February. Cloud cover sometimes prevented views of the crater.
Incandescence from the crater was visible nightly, although sometimes only in conjunction with emissions. Explosions on 15 January at and produced ash plumes that rose at most 1 km and drifted NE. An explosion on 17 January at produced an ash plume that rose 1. Incandescence from the crater was visible nightly. Small explosions on 8 January at and on 9 January at produced ash plumes that rose and m, respectively. Three ash plumes recorded during January rose m and drifted E.
An explosion on 12 January generated an ash plume that rose m and drifted NE. Incandescence from the crater was visible on a few nights. Explosions on 1 January at and on 3 January at produced ash plumes that rose m and drifted NE. An explosion at on 4 January generated an ash plume that rose 1. An ash plume later that day rose 1. Incandescence from the crater was visible some nights. During December there were explosions detected by the network. An explosion on 26 December generated an ash plume that rose 3.
Six explosions were detected on 27 December; those at and produced ash plumes that rose 0. An explosion at generated a plume with low ash content that rose 0. An explosion on 29 December produced an ash plume that rose 2 km and drifted NE. On 30 December there were 10 explosions that all produced ash plumes that rose 1 km and drifted NE; one of the explosions generated an ash plume that rose 2 km. The explosion also ejected incandescent tephra that landed m down the N flank.
Three more explosions were detected that day. During December seismicity indicated continuing emissions of water vapor, gas, and frequent ash. Incandescence from the crater was visible each night. Three explosions occurred on 18 December; the last one generated an ash plume that rose 2 km and drifted NE. Explosions on 19 December generated ash plumes that rose m. Explosions ejected incandescent tephra that landed m down from the crater on the NE and N flanks.
During an overflight volcanologists observed a lava dome at the bottom of the crater. Two explosions were detected during December. Explosions were detected at and on 10 December. Multiple explosions on 16 December generated ash plumes that rose 1 km. An explosion at ejected incandescent material onto the NE flank, less than m from the crater. On 3 December an ash plume rose m above the crater and drifted WSW.
An explosion at was associated with crater incandescence. An ash plume rose m, and explosions at and produced ash plumes that rose m and drifted SW. Two ash plumes rose m and drifted SW the next day. Explosions detected at and on 6 December produced plumes with low ash content that rose m.
At a small rockslide on the N flank was recorded by a webcam. An explosion at on 8 December ejected incandescent tephra onto the flanks and generated an ash plume that rose 3 km.
Explosions were detected at and on 9 December. On 21 November a plume with low ash content rose m above the crater and drifted NE. Incandescence from the crater at night was noted. The seismic network detected explosions during the period. Incandescent material was periodically ejected onto the N and E flanks, as far as m. Ashfall was reported in Paso de Cortes. On 6 November a small rockslide on the SW flank was recorded by a webcam and the seismic network.
Scientists aboard an overflight observed dome 53, emplaced during November; it was an estimated m in diameter and 30 m thick. During November seismicity indicated continuing emissions of water vapor, gas, and occasional small amounts of ash. Incandescence from the crater was observed most nights. Explosions were detected during November. The first explosion ejected incandescent tephra and generated an ash plume that rose 1. Others generated plumes that rose as high as 1.
The seismic network detected nine explosions during October and two explosions on 31 October; ash plumes rose as high as 1. Periodic ejections of incandescent tephra landed m away on the E and N crater flanks on 4 November.
Ash plumes rose 1 km. Incandescence from the crater was observed at night. A small explosion at on 25 October ejected tephra m onto the S flank. A steam-and-gas plume containing a small amount of ash rose 1. An explosion at on 26 October ejected tephra m onto the N flank.
A steam-and-gas plume with diffuse ash rose 1. On 28 October an ash plume drifted WSW. The bottom of the inner crater floor was m below the floor of the main crater, cup-shaped, and covered with tephra. No sign of the 52nd lava dome, emplaced in early August , was visible.
Steam emissions originated from a crack in the N wall of the inner crater and ash emission came from the bottom of the crater. During October seismicity indicated continuing emissions of water vapor, gas, and occasional small amounts of ash.
Cloud cover sometimes prevented visual observations. Low-intensity explosions were detected on 17 and 19 October. Incandescence from the crater was observed at night during October. Cloud cover often prevented visual observations, although steam-and-gas plumes were observed daily. During October ash plumes rose 1 km and drifted W. On 9 October ash plumes rose m and drifted NW. Gas-and-ash plumes on 10 October rose 1. On 12 October ash plumes rose 2 km and drifted NE. Nighttime incandescence from the crater was visible during this time.
Low-intensity exhalations were observed during hour periods with consecutive daily counts of 31, 5, 7, 36, 64, 36, and 1. VT earthquakes of magnitude 1. Weather conditions frequently prevented visual observations.
Nighttime incandescence from the crater was visible during this time period. Low-intensity exhalations were observed during hour periods with consecutive daily counts: 15, 1, 5, 17, 30, 12 and On 4 and 5 September, three and four VT earthquakes were detected, respectively, with an average magnitude 1. Small pulses of steam and gas drifted WSW during the mornings of 5 and 6 September.
On 7 September, steam and gas emissions were accompanied by 15 minutes of harmonic tremor. At incandescent tephra was ejected. An ash plume was observed reaching 1 km above the summit and drifting WNW. On most nights incandescence was observed, increasing during times with larger emissions. On 1 September partial visibility due to cloud cover was reported.
On August the emissions had a low intensity explosive component. On most nights incandescence was observed, increasing with larger emissions. On 23 August slight amounts of ash were reported northwest of the volcano in the communities of Amecameca, Ozumba, and Tlalmanalco. On most days there was only partial visibility due to cloud cover, and on August heavy cloud cover was reported.
On most nights incandescence was observed, increasing in intensity with larger emissions. On August heavy clouds were reported. On 9 August there were 5 explosions and ash columns that rose 1 km above the crater. Slight nighttime incandescence was observed.
On 29 July, emissions were accompanied by 30 minutes of tremor. Slight nighttime incandescence was observed during 25 and 26 June and also during , , and July.
Explosions from the summit were detected an average of 10 times each day, producing plumes with minor ash content that rose , m above the crater and drifted NE and NW. Activity increased in early July; up to explosions low and moderate intensity were detected over 24 hours on 9 July. Slight nighttime incandescence was observed during 18, 19, 20, and 22 June.
Explosions from the summit were detected times each day and produced plumes with minor ash content that rose m-2, m above the crater and drifted NE and NW. Explosions recorded at and on 20 April, at and on 21 April, and at on 22 April produced plumes with minor ash content that rose around 1 km above the crater and drifted NE and NW.
Crater incandescence increased when the explosions occurred. On 9 April some of the larger emissions were accompanied by crater incandescence. A steam-and-gas plume containing small amounts of ash rose Explosions on 10, 12, and 13 April ejected incandescent material m from the crater; ejecta on 12 April landed on the E flank. Nighttime incandescence was visible during April.
An explosion at on 6 March ejected material m onto the flanks. A new dome m wide was at the bottom of the cavity. On 27 February activity decreased considerably. On 2 March an ash plume rose more than 2 km above the crater and drifted NE.
On 4 March at an explosion ejected incandescent tephra m onto the NE flank and produced an ash plume that rose 1. At a gas-and-vapor plume containing small amounts of ash rose 1 km and drifted E. A small explosion at on 21 February ejected incandescent tephra which mostly fell back inside the crater, and produced an ash plume that rose 2 km.
An explosion at ejected incandescent tephra m from the crater rim. An ash plume rose 4 km and drifted NE. Another explosion at produced an ash plume with lower ash content that rose 2 km and also drifted NE.
At on 22 February an explosion generated an ash plume that rose 2 km and drifted SE. Explosions at and ejected incandescent tephra and produced ash plumes that rose 1 km and drifted SE. On 25 February steam-and-gas plumes drifting SE were occasionally seen during times of good visibility. Explosions were frequently detected, varying from 30 to 97 events per day. Though cloudy conditions obscured the view at times, ash plumes were detected on October and 1 November. The ash event on 31 October generated a plume that reached an altitude of 1 km and drifted NW.
An Mc 2. The largest VT earthquake during this time period was a magnitude 2. Tremor was frequently detected during this reporting period; on 1 November, 3 hours and 21 minutes of high frequency tremor were detected. On 24 October an explosion at produced an ash plume that rose 1 km and drifted SW. Eight low-intensity explosions on 26 October increased gas and steam emissions and produced slight amounts of ash.
Incandescence from the crater was observed overnight during October. An explosion was detected on 27 October; cloud cover prevented visual observations.
An ash plume rose 1 km and drifted W on 28 October. Incandescence from the crater was observed on most nights. On 28 August gas, steam, and ash plumes rose m and drifted SW. Gas-and-steam plumes were observed the next day. On 30 August gas and steam plumes that sometimes contained ash rose 1 km above the crater and drifted W.
During September steam and gas plumes containing minor amounts of ash drifted WSW. Incandescence from the crater was observed and occasionally intensified with some emissions. On 14 August a period of tremor was accompanied by an ash emission that drifted W.
Later that day an ash plume rose 1 km above the crater and drifted W. Gas-and-steam plumes were observed during August. A period of tremor on 17 August was accompanied by an ash plume that rose 1. On 18 August high-frequency, low-amplitude tremor was accompanied by an ash emission that rose 1.
On 19 August minor steam-and-gas emissions drifted W. During August emissions likely contained small amounts of ash but cloud cover prevented confirmation.
Incandescence from the crater was occasionally observed. On 31 July a clear decrease in the size of the water vapor and gas plumes was observed; plumes were pushed by winds down the NW flank and rose only m above the crater rim. An explosion was detected at on 1 August, but cloud cover prevented confirmation of any ejecta. On 4 August emissions of gas, steam, and ash drifted NW. Access to the crater within a km radius was prohibited. During July seismicity indicated continuing gas-and-steam emissions that sometimes contained ash; cloud cover often prevented visual confirmation.
Ash in the emissions was observed during July. At and on 28 July, and on 29 July, ash plumes rose as high as 2 km and drifted W.
On 17 July an explosion was detected at During a period of clear weather on 19 July observers noted steam-and-gas plumes drifting W. An explosion at generated a steam, gas, and ash plume that rose m above the crater and drifted NW. Another explosion was detected at On 20 July steam-and-gas plumes rose 1 km and drifted SW; steam, gas, and ash emissions rose 1.
Steam-and-gas plumes were bluish on 21 July; the plumes rose m and drifted NW. An explosion at on 23 July generated an ash plume that rose 1. Incandescence from the crater was observed at night during July. Plumes with small amounts of ash were observed at and on 10 July, and an explosion was detected at Medium-sized explosions at on 11 July, and at and on 12 July, ejected incandescent tephra 2 km onto the E flank and 1 km onto the N flank.
Early on 13 July a gas-and-ash plume was observed drifting NE. During July steam, gas, and ash emissions rose from the SE part of the crater, some incandescence from the crater was observed, and a dense steam-and-gas plume was noted. On 15 July a plume of steam, gas, and ash rose 1 km and drifted W.
During an overflight later that day scientists observed a m-wide and to m deep crater where the lava dome had been; explosions during the previous few days had destroyed the dome. At on 16 July a steam-and-gas plume containing minor amounts of ash rose from the crater. Incandescence emanating from the crater was also observed early that day.
Diffuse ash plumes at and rose almost 2 km above the crater. Starting at tremor was accompanied by persistent emissions of gas and ash that rose 3. Incandescent tephra was ejected short distances onto the N and E flanks. During July tremor and 99 emissions were detected, and incandescence from the crater was observed. Steam-and-gas plumes continued to rise above the crater and incandescent tephra was ejected onto the N and E flanks.
Flights resumed later that day. Gas, steam, and ash plumes drifted NW on 5 July, and almost continuous tremor was recorded. Cloud cover often obscured visual observations. A news article stated that four airlines canceled a total of 17 flights.
On 6 July low-frequency, high-amplitude tremor was accompanied by gas, steam, and ash emissions that rose 2 km and drifted NW. At the low-frequency tremor amplitude decreased, followed by diminishing emissions of gas and ash which drifted NW.
The public was reminded not to approach the crater within a km radius. Later that day gas-and-ash plumes rose 3 km and drifted NW.
Three explosions were detected, but cloud cover prevented visual confirmation. During July tremor was accompanied by persistent emissions of steam, gas, and small amounts of ash that drifted WSW and NW; cloud cover continued to hinder visual observations. Three explosions increased gas-and-ash emissions.
Incandescence and ejected incandescent tephra were sometimes observed. During an overflight on 7 July, scientists observed that a new lava dome, m in diameter, had recently formed in the crater. Explosions on 8 July generated ash plumes that rose 1 km and drifted NW, and explosions on 9 July generated an ash plume that rose 1.
During June seismicity indicated gas-and-steam emissions that sometimes contained small amounts of ash; cloud cover often prevented visual confirmation although plumes were observed most days. Incandescence from the crater was occasionally observed and sometimes increased with accompanying emissions.
During June a water vapor, gas, and ash plume rose m and drifted NW.
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