Popocatépetl from the ISS on January 23, 2001 It might be (and
is likely) just normal behavior for Popocatépetl in Mexico, but
the volcano produced six plumes over the last 24 hours,
according to a report out of Mexico City (in spanish). Officials
from El Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (The National
Center for the Prevention of Disasters – Cenapred) say that the
plumes appear to be mostly water vapor and other volcanic gases,
but remind people living near the volcano to be vigilant.
Popocatépetl is only 70 km from Mexico City, so any major
eruption from the volcano could affect life and air travel to
the major metropolis. The last major eruptive period at
Popocatépetl ran from 1996-2003, producing VEI 3 eruptions, but
the volcano has been producing smaller eruptions since January
2005. The volcano produces a mixed bag of activity, with ash
fall, lava flows, pyroclastic flows and lahar generation and
might be one of the more hazardous volcanoes in the Americas.