Larger view. | Popocatépetl Volcano in Mexico on January 2, 2021. Image of the NASA Earth Observatory by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the US Geological Survey.
NASA’s Earth Observatory just published this image, acquired by Landsat 8 on January 2, 2021. It is a panel rising from the Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico, whose nickname is popo. This volcano is located in central Mexico, just 70 km from Mexico City. Mexico City residents can see it on clear days. Kasha Patel of NASA wrote:
Popocatépetl Volcano – the Aztec name for “smoking mountain” – is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico. The glacier-clad stratovolcano has erupted since January 2005, with low-intensity daily emissions of gas, steam and ash …
On January 6, the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) reported a volcanic ash outbreak that rose to approximately 6,400 meters (21,000 feet) above the volcano. The National Center for Disaster Prevention in Mexico (CENAPRED), which continuously monitors Popo, has warned people not to approach the volcano or its crater due to falling ash and rock fragments. Some ash falls were blown in the wind towards the city of Puebla, located about 45 kilometers away from the volcano.
At 5,426 meters (17,802 feet) above sea level, Popocatépetl is the second highest volcano in Mexico (after Citlaltépetl). It is composed of alternating layers of volcanic ash, lava and rocks from previous eruptions. The volcano is located about 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City and more than 20 million people live close enough to be affected by a major eruption. However, most eruptions in the last 600 years have been relatively mild.
Conclusion: Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano has erupted since January 2005. On January 6, 2021, Mexico’s National Center for Disaster Prevention, which continuously monitors the volcano, warned people not to approach due to falling ash and rock fragments.
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