Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano Springs Back to Life This Week, Belching Towers of Ash That Forced School Closures

Once again, the Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico has become active, emitting massive ash clouds that led to the closure of schools in 11 nearby villages. Phys.org reported that local residents and scientists, equipped with a network of sensors, cameras, and advanced technology, are meticulously observing every tremor and eruption of the volcano.

The country's National Center for Disaster Prevention reported multiple "moderate" explosions occurring at Popocatepetl, which is renowned as one of the country's most active volcanoes. This activity has drawn the attention of researchers, who are constantly monitoring the volcano's behavior and gathering data to better understand its patterns and potential risks.

(Photo : JOSE CASTANARES/AFP via Getty Images)
The Popocatepetl Volcano spews ash and smoke as seen from Puebal, state of Puebla, Mexico, on May 18, 2023. The Popocatepetl volcano, located about 55 km from Mexico City, has recorded numerous low-intensity exhalations in the past few days.

Experts Closely Monitoring El Popo's Volcanic Activity

For nearly three decades, Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano, affectionately known as "El Popo," has been consistently emitting toxic fumes, ash, and incandescent rocks since it awakened from a long period of dormancy in 1994. Located 45 miles (72 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City, the volcano poses a visible and closely monitored threat to the area's 22 million residents.

With the potential to disrupt air traffic and blanket the city in choking ash, the volcano is the most prominent and watched hazard in the region. To closely monitor its activity, six cameras, a thermal imaging device, and 12 seismological monitoring stations are positioned around the volcano's summit, relaying continuous data to a command center in Mexico City.

A team of 13 scientists from various disciplines takes shifts at the command center, which operates 24/7. As Phys.org reported, the team's primary focus is to provide advance warning of impending ash clouds, as this allows people to take necessary precautions. Unlike earthquakes, a volcanic eruption often provides longer warning times, making the behavior of Popocatepetl relatively predictable.

The command center analyzes data from seismographs, which detect internal tremors in the volcano, indicating the movement of hot rock and gas within its vents. Additionally, they monitor gas levels in nearby springs and at the summit, as well as wind patterns that help predict the direction in which ash could be carried.

According to Reuters, the recent intensification of the volcano's activity has prompted Mexican authorities to cancel in-person classes for over 100,000 students in towns surrounding Popocatepetl. Concerns about falling ash and harmful gas inhalation have led to a temporary shift to online classes and the possibility of large-scale evacuations if the situation worsens.

El Popo's Volcanic Activity This Week

The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Global Volcanism Program is one of those closely monitoring El Popo's activity this week. On their website, it reported data from Mexico's Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (CENAPRED) and various satellites. Below are the following El Popo's activities this week:

May 9-16, CENAPRED reported daily steam, gas, and ash emissions, as well as minor-to-moderate explosions at Popocatépetl volcano.
Plumes from the emissions primarily drifted in the southeast (SE), east-southeast (ESE), and east-northeast (ENE) directions.
Minor explosions occurred on multiple days at various times, with some notable instances on May 9 to 15.
Ashfall was reported in nearby areas, including Tlalmanalco and Tetela del Volcán, between May 9 to 10, and in Nealtican, Huejotzingo, and Domingo Arenas on May 13.
The volcano's network detected ash plumes rising to altitudes of 6.1-7.3 km (20,000-24,000 ft) above sea level, drifting east and southeast, as observed by satellite images.
The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two, indicating a middle level of volcanic activity on the three-color scale.
CENAPRED advised people to respect the 12 km exclusion radius and avoid ascending the volcano.