Milenio. Puebla • The director of the National Center of Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED), Roberto Quaas Weppen, announced an increase in activity of the volcano Popocatépetl. He emphasized that there is no immediate emergency, but observed that the heightened activity underscores the need for people to continue to stay alert.
The director reported that yesterday morning the volcano registered almost two hours of high 'spasmotic tremors' that caused emission of higher density gas and ash 'exhalations', which flowed mostly to the sector south of the volcano.Recently we had a very clear and cold (9 C; 48 F) night. In the morning, we wakened to one of those wondrously clear days that renew the spirit.
In his press conference, the director noted that a dome of about one million cubic meters (1,307,971 cubic yards) of material has formed about 100 meters inside Popocatéptl's crater. Spanish original
"Our" volcanoes, Popocatéptl and Iztaccíhuatl, were visible in sharp relief against the rosy, predawn sky.
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| Yes, this really is the view from the floor-to-ceiling window in our living room. Iztaccíhuatl rests to the left with her head nearly at the left border; an extinct volcano forms her breast. Popocatéptl, the Smoking Mountain, is to the right. LEFT CLICK to enlarge. The flat tops of two other extinct volcanoes are visible on the ridge line between Iztacc and Popo. One is at the left, just to the right of Iztacc's feet. The other is pretty much right smack in the middle of the enlarged photo. |
"Wow," Reed called out from the living room, "Popo is really smoking." And so he was!
Don Goyo's 'Exhalations'
Popo emits gases and volcanic ash. The gases are toxic in the immediate vicinity of the volcano, but the volcano's altitude of 5,426 m (17,802 ft) and the altitude here in Mexico City—2,240 m (7,350 ft)—means that volcanic gases spewing forth 10,000 ft above the Valley of Mexico have sufficient time and space to dissipate. The net result is they don't present health risks.
An 'eruption' is the emission of diverse hot material from the volcano, including gasses and rocks of various sizes. Volcanic ash is formed by pulverized volcanic rocks. Popo's eruptions to date have taken the following forms:
Rather Remarkable
We don't own a car, so we use taxis. Recently I've been asking our drivers what they think of Popocatéptl's activity. I have to admit that their responses are remarkably blase. Yesterday the driver who brought me back from the supermarket responded with a dour growl, "Earthquakes are worse."
But I have to admit that for these two gabachos (Yanks), it's pretty exciting living beside a volcano—let alone a volcano with as much charisma as Popocatéptl—Popo, don Goyo, el Coloso (The Giant), Serafín, Don Gregorio!
We're even coming to understand why the original people who still live, as they always have, in pueblos on the flanks of the volcano are alert, but calm. They are accustomed to the periodic exhalations of el Coloso (The Giant). Stay tuned!
Still Curious?
Jenny's Posts relating Popocatéptl's activity since April 16, 2012:
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| At dawn Popocatéptl's gas and ash plume was blowing south. (Left click to enlarge) Note the distinctive flat-top craters of the other volcano discernible on the ridge line. Someday when we have time, we want to count exactly how many extinct volcanoes we can see from our apartment! Photos: Reed |
Don Goyo's 'Exhalations'
Popo emits gases and volcanic ash. The gases are toxic in the immediate vicinity of the volcano, but the volcano's altitude of 5,426 m (17,802 ft) and the altitude here in Mexico City—2,240 m (7,350 ft)—means that volcanic gases spewing forth 10,000 ft above the Valley of Mexico have sufficient time and space to dissipate. The net result is they don't present health risks.
An 'eruption' is the emission of diverse hot material from the volcano, including gasses and rocks of various sizes. Volcanic ash is formed by pulverized volcanic rocks. Popo's eruptions to date have taken the following forms:
- Gas and vapor;
- Ash;
- Growth of a body of lava in the volcano's crater.
Rather Remarkable
We don't own a car, so we use taxis. Recently I've been asking our drivers what they think of Popocatéptl's activity. I have to admit that their responses are remarkably blase. Yesterday the driver who brought me back from the supermarket responded with a dour growl, "Earthquakes are worse."
But I have to admit that for these two gabachos (Yanks), it's pretty exciting living beside a volcano—let alone a volcano with as much charisma as Popocatéptl—Popo, don Goyo, el Coloso (The Giant), Serafín, Don Gregorio!
We're even coming to understand why the original people who still live, as they always have, in pueblos on the flanks of the volcano are alert, but calm. They are accustomed to the periodic exhalations of el Coloso (The Giant). Stay tuned!
Still Curious?
Jenny's Posts relating Popocatéptl's activity since April 16, 2012:
- Volcano Alert: Popocatéptl Increasingly Active
- Volcano Update: Don Goyo is still breathing....
- Volcano Update 3: Popo Blew His Top....
- Cuicuilco (Valley of Mexico)
- Volcanic Activity and 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 Maya 'prophecy'.
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