Popocatepetl has "poofed" again, and a picture appeared in our paper of the steam/ash column that emanated from it. One of my students asked, "Does this mean that it is going to erupt?" Because I don't have the necessary information to answer that, I defer to you. Well, does it?

rocky Mike and student

Dear Mike and student,

I am sure you are aware that a volcano is considered to be erupting if it is emitting gas, pyroclasts, or lava. So Popocatepetl is certainly erupting. You might ask if it will be a "big" eruption. It appears that the current eruption is pretty mild, nothing like the large explosive eruptions of 1519 and probably 1663.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota 

Other Categories        Other Questions

To VolcanoWorld