Volcanic Alert: Popocatéptl Increasingly Active

We've lived in Mexico City for eight months. From our living room window we've watched with fascination the "smoking mountain", Popocatéptl, live up to his name—sending gassy plumes into the sky. Recently, we've noticed that Popo—as he is familiarly called—seems to be belching rather more than usual.

Following activity on April 16, 2012, the National Disaster Prevention Center raised the warning system from Yellow-Phase 2 to a Yellow-Phase 3, because the volcano had been intermittently spewing incandescent rocks—glowing rocks! A snowstorm the previous night held the flow of ash, water and molten rocks to about a quarter of a mile.

Yellow-Phase 3 indicates the probability of observing explosive activity at intermediate to high levels, the growth of domes and possible explosions of lava, as well as ash falls over the surrounding countryside.  

Beginning at 6:30 AM on April 18, 2012, Popo began emitting a "train" of expulsions that lasted for two and a half hours. But el Coloso (the Colossus) wasn't quite through making his statement for the day.

Popocatéptl's smokey plume, April 18, 2012 (CNN). This photograph was probably taken from east of the volcano, perhaps near Puebla. In Mexico City, the smog is so thick we can't see Popocatéptl during the day. This morning at dawn, I saw both volcanoes through 'haze'.

At 10:07 AM Popo generated an earthquake registering 3.4 on the Richter scale. The tremors continued for 40 minutes.  Although the quake's intensity was relatively low, it seems that 40 minutes is a very long time to feel the ground moving under your feet.

Coyoacán is about 35 miles west of Popocatéptl. We didn't feel the movement.

Mexico's Vulnerability to Natural Forces

We've written before about Mexico's vulnerability to natural forces, but now seems a good time to review the current challenges:

• March 20 Earthquake: Aftershocks continue, some are substantial.
• Severe Drought: Northern states, including Chihuahua and Zacatecas, are facing severe shortages that are forecast to persist for some time. 
• Volcanic Activity:  Popocatéptl has become increasingly active.
• Hurricane Season: June to November puts Mexico's Gulf states and the Yucatán Peninsula in the front line of possible hurricanes.
• Floods: When the heavy, tropical rains arrive, they bring the threat of floods, especially to the Gulf states. 

Today state and federal governments made a show of preparedness in anticipation of additional volcanic activity.

don Goyo o Serafín

About 68,000 people live in pueblos on the flanks of Popocatéptl. So far, inhabitants appear to be maintaining the normal routines of daily life, albeit with eyes and ears attuned to the volcano. It is said that there are elders in this indigenous communities whose special relationship with the volcano enables them to know when it is about to erupt.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, a cult was dedicated to exclusive worship of the god of the volcano, who is today known as don Goyo or Serafín, in his post-Spanish indigenous personification.  A small, symbolic cult survives today. Its members are known as tiemperos del volcán Popocatéptl, or temperos of the volcano Popocatéptl.

Tiempero refers to 'readiness of the soil for planting', so the tiemperos of Popocatéptl are those who celebrate rites in the sacred sanctuaries, located in the rivers, streams and forested areas on the volcano's flanks. Rituals are performed not only to seek the blessing of the life-sustaining rain but to ask the deity's protection against the threat of the hail that can fall like knives, shredding corn and bean crops in the fields.

This primal link to an ancient god of water, Tlaloc, is noteworthy. Water in all its forms is arguably the very foundation of spiritual thought throughout the lands and peoples of Mesoamerica. In Pátzcuaro, I was told that to this day los ancianos (the Elders) say, El agua es vida (Water is life).

We were taken aback by a chance remark made by our artist friend Debra Breckeen, who lives in Zirahuén, near Pátzcuaro, Michoacán — words to the effect that, "Water will be the next battle." Sadly, this is an under-reported global battle whose opening skirmishes are being felt even today in the Southwest United States.

What's the situation in Coyoacán-Mexico City?

We're about 35 miles northwest of the volcano. The expulsions are blowing east/northeast, so we're fine. We're hoping that the air will clear—which it will as soon as the rains arrive in earnest—so we can see what's happening.

Photo from space. Directionality is 'off' 90-degrees: North is to the right; West is straight up. Arrows point to Popo and to the drift of Ash Cloud north; Mexico City is west of the volcano (up). Left click to enlarge image.

It's hard to believe, but in 1994, when Popocatéptl also erupted, I was on a two-year contract with Pemex, the Mexican Oil Company.  Perhaps I can be forgiven for wondering whether I really am la patrona de la mala suerte (patroness of bad luck), as a taxista in Pátzcuaro dubbed me a couple of years ago!  This linked post is one of my all-time favorites because it is muy mexicano—very Mexican!

Still Curious?

Popocatéptl—Recent Activity:

• This report from The Inquisitr is objective, factual and cites other reputable news sources.
• UTube video (2:04) of Popo's 'plume' shot from a commercial airliner—have a little patience as the video shot by this amateur cameraman tends to go in and out of focus.  
• Internet report includes satellite photo. 

Impact of Volcanic Activity on Mexico's People:

• Cuicuilco (Valley of Mexico)
• Volcanic Activity & Mesoamerican Mythology
• Mexico's Fascinating Geography: Where it all begins....
• In Mexico a Volcano Rumbles, But Few Flinch:  Damien Cave is the New York Times Mexico correspondent. His articles shows how much he enjoys Mexico. For this article Damien ventured out to the pueblos on the flanks of Popocatéptl and spoke with inhabitants, whose point of view is unique!  Unfortunately, Damien is misinformed about the so-called Maya 'prophecy' that the world is to come to an end on December 21, 2012 — but not to worry, here's Jenny's earlier post describing the archaeology and the history behind the 'prophecy'.