Popocatépetl throws out a 3-kilometre plume

It’s not uncommon for Popocatépetl, the volcano which overlooks the Mexican capital, Mexico City, to produce fumarolic activity and small ash emissions: Popocatépetl is an active, restless volcano. For an ash plume from Popocatépetl to reach an altitude of 3 kilometres, however, is unusual, and the event has attracted considerable interest both within Mexico and elsewhere. A small but significant eruption this morning threw out a considerable ash emission that reached 3 km into the sky and produced ashfall in some nearby districts. The fact that this volcano, with a long history of sometimes dangerous and destructive activity, is close neighbour to one of the world’s great cities means that its behaviour is very carefully watched. Mexico’s CENAPRED have said that today’s activity is still within normal parameters for Popocatépetl, but have warned people to stay at least 7 km away from the summit.

More on this here tomorrow [EDIT: the eruption at Puyehue has pushed our Popocatépetl coverage back a day — hope to write more on 5 June]. And there’s much more information about today’s events at Eruptions: Moderate ash plume at Mexico’s Popocatépetl.

[Image: ash emission from Popocatépetl, 3 June 2011 (EFE).]

News
Emite el Popocatépetl fumarola de 3 kilómetros – El Universal, 3 June 2011
Active volcano spews ash near Mexico City in moderate eruption – Wall Street Journal, 3 June 2011

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Popocatépetl – summary information for Popocatépetl (1401-09=)
CENAPRED – volcano monitoring information from CENAPRED