Based on information obtained in a flight over the crater on Sunday, the National Center for the Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED) has determined that a lava dome has formed filling the inner crater of the volcano—the scenario the head of Civil Protection called a “pressure cooker” last week. The determination came one day after authorities decided to ratchet up the Volcano Alert to Yellow, Phase 2, just one level from level Red mandatory evacuations.
The lava dome reaches approximately 250 meters in diameter, covering the escape of gases and steam, which last week the National Coordinator of Civil Protection, Luis Felipe Puente Espinoza, compared to a “pressure cooker.”
In an interview with Grupo Imagen Multimedia last week, Puente Espinoza said that close monitoring of the volcano was important, “because if a dome formed, it´s not that it has lowered its activity but rather is holding in pressure like a pressure cooker.”
CENAPRED monitoring equipment detected more than 99 emissions of ash, gas and steam, as well as tremors Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday “at 19:28 hours the monitoring system registered an explosion that was followed by an episode of high-amplitude harmonic tremor that lasted four hours,” according to CENAPRED.
A 1.9 magnitude volcanic-tectonic earthquake, which is caused by the movement of magma that causes pressure changes in the rock around the magma, was recorded by CENAPRED on Sunday afternoon.
Seismic charts register large explosions in the Popocatépetl volcano. One volcanic-tectonic earthquake recorded was a 1.9 magnitude.
The volcano has also registered various explosions that were captured on seismographic charts.
Authorities on Saturday raised the alert level to Yellow, Phase 3, the last level before a Red Alert level is declared, with mandatory evacuations of areas nearby the volcano.
From May 12 to June 7 the Popocatépetl volcano was also raised to level Yellow, phase 3, but then was returned to phase 2 when volcanic activity diminished.
The Popocatépetl Volcano is located southeast of Mexico City, right on the border of the State of Mexico and the State of Puebla.
Popocatépetl volcano yesterday afternoon.
Popocatépetl volcano last night captured by Cenapred monitoring equipment.
The lava dome reaches approximately 250 meters in diameter, covering the escape of gases and steam, which last week the National Coordinator of Civil Protection, Luis Felipe Puente Espinoza, compared to a “pressure cooker.”
In an interview with Grupo Imagen Multimedia last week, Puente Espinoza said that close monitoring of the volcano was important, “because if a dome formed, it´s not that it has lowered its activity but rather is holding in pressure like a pressure cooker.”
CENAPRED monitoring equipment detected more than 99 emissions of ash, gas and steam, as well as tremors Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday “at 19:28 hours the monitoring system registered an explosion that was followed by an episode of high-amplitude harmonic tremor that lasted four hours,” according to CENAPRED.
A 1.9 magnitude volcanic-tectonic earthquake, which is caused by the movement of magma that causes pressure changes in the rock around the magma, was recorded by CENAPRED on Sunday afternoon.
Seismic charts register large explosions in the Popocatépetl volcano. One volcanic-tectonic earthquake recorded was a 1.9 magnitude.
The volcano has also registered various explosions that were captured on seismographic charts.
Authorities on Saturday raised the alert level to Yellow, Phase 3, the last level before a Red Alert level is declared, with mandatory evacuations of areas nearby the volcano.
From May 12 to June 7 the Popocatépetl volcano was also raised to level Yellow, phase 3, but then was returned to phase 2 when volcanic activity diminished.
The Popocatépetl Volcano is located southeast of Mexico City, right on the border of the State of Mexico and the State of Puebla.
Popocatépetl volcano yesterday afternoon.
Popocatépetl volcano last night captured by Cenapred monitoring equipment.