Eruption of Popocatepetl Volcano, Mexico, January 1, 1998

The Popocatepetl volcano is in central Mexico between Mexico City and Puebla. In late 1994, it started a series of explosive eruptions alternating with lava dome growth in the crater. One of the better documented explosions occurred on the evening of January 1, 1998. The skies were clear, so the eruption was easily captured on the CENAPRED Volcano-Cam.

(27K JPG)	(30K JPG)	(37K JPG)	(38K JPG)	(40K JPG)	(37K JPG)

The first image (27K JPG) shows the volcano about five minutes before the eruption began. A light cloud of steam and volcanic gases coming from the crater is the only sign of activity. The subsequent images show the evolution of the eruption at about one-minute intervals. The ash plume bends over toward the left (east) due to strong westerly winds over the volcano. Starting in the third image (37K JPG) there is an orange glow in the lower right portion of the images. This is an area of brush fires started by red-hot rocks ejected in the eruption.

These images are used with the kind permission of CENAPRED. Their web site contains more information on the eruption, including daily updates and a photo gallery.

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