Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano Puts on Spectacular Show

Blue Moon and Popocatepetl Eruptions

Mexico’s National Center for Disaster Prevention recorded 13 explosions at Puebla state’s Popocatepetl volcano over the weekend. This video captures the volcanic activity on the evening of Saturday, August 1, along with a full moon. Popocatepetl is one of the most active volcanoes in North America, currently emitting a near constant stream of gas and ash. Credit: YouTube/webcamsdemexico

Flights Cancelled After Mexican Volcano Spews Ash

For the second time in 10 days, writes the AP, the Popocatepetl volcano east of Mexico City spewed ash into the sky, forcing cancellation of flights at the nearby Puebla International Airport.

A statement from the government's airport oversight agency Wednesday said operations in Puebla were suspended at 6:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. EST) to allow airport personnel to clean runways and other areas covered in ash. Officials expected the airport to resume normal operations soon. The suspension affected three flights Wednesday to Houston, Monterrey and Guadalajara.

On February 15, a similar eruption caused the cancellation of three flights at the airport.

According to Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention, a series of explosions at the volcano overnight tossed hot rocks 760 yards (700 meters) down the volcano's cone and sent a column of ash nearly 2 ½ miles (4 kilometers) into the sky.

The national civil protection agency said Wednesday the volcano is experiencing a period of frequent low-intensity explosions following a series of tremors on Sunday. Similar episodes were observed in May and July 2013, and likely have to do with the growth of a new dome.

Popocatepetl Volcano

From the BBC News in Pictures:



People look at the Popocatepetl volcano as it spews ash in Puebla State, Mexico. The volcano lies around 70km (40 miles) from Mexico City, and is visible from the capital on a clear day.

Popocatepetl Volcano Has Small Eruption

The sun sets as a plume of gas, ash and steam rises from the crater of the Popocatepetl volcano, seen from the town 

Authorities say the Popocatepetl volcano located just southeast of Mexico City has registered an explosion that spewed a mix of steam, gas and ashes about 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) into the air.

Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention says that the flare up occurred on Friday afternoon and that the amount of ash mix released was "moderate."

Popocatepetl is an active volcano, and the second tallest volcano in the country. It is located 72 kilometers (nearly 45 miles) from the capital, and close to Morelos, Puebla and Mexico states.

Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico): pictures of crater, lava dome #52 destroyed

Activity at the volcano has remained low, with small occasional steam, gas and sometimes ash emissions. Incandescence was observed over the crater during the night.

During an overflight on 14 Oct "it was observed that the inner crater, formed in July 2013, has increased its diameter, probably due to the destruction of the dome and walls collapsing, reaching an estimated 350 m diameter. The bottom of the inner crater is about 100 m below the floor of the main crater. No residues were observed of the 52nd dome, which was emplaced in the bottom of the inner crater early last August. Instead, the bottom of the inner crater is cup-shaped and is covered with tephra (fragmented material) Most emissions of steam are coming from a crack in the north wall of the inner crater, while ash emissions, originate in the bottom of the crater, in the area covered by tephra.

The video shows in detail the internal cráter, that is 350 m in diameter and 100 deep (VIDEO) The emission of an intermittent small plume of brown ash can be seen originating from the tephra-covered bottom of the crater, which lasted under one minute. This plume corresponds to the signal detected by teams CENAPRED at 11:38. Some white fumaroles are also observed in the crater wall. These observations confirmed that the explosions occurred in late September and early October destroyed the 52nd dome, and that the activity that the volcano has recently presented continues the cycle of construction and destruction of domes that has characterized the Popocatépetl in the last 20 years." (Source: CENAPRED)

Popocatépetl Volcano Activity 24 Aug 2014

Volcano Discovery writes, "The volcano had a phase of stronger activity this morning, but overall this remains similar to the past months. A discrete explosion ejected an ash plume approx 1 km high and a phase of strong steaming, possibly with some ash emissions, occurred this morning. "Glow remains visible from the crater at night, indicating the continued slow rise of magma to the summit."

Popocatépetl Explodes On June 19

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): A moderate explosion occurred yesterday morning at 11:10 local time and generated a 2.5 km high ash column drifting NW. Overall, the activity at the volcano has been low during the past weeks. The alert status remains at Yellow Phase 2 (CENAPRED).

Popocatépetl Volcano (Mexico): new crater formed on top of lava dome