Glacier retreat during the recent eruptive period of Popocaté petl volcano, Mexico

Abstract

Popocatépetl (19°02’ N, 98°62’W; 5424 m) is one of the largest active stratovolcanoes in the Transmexican Volcanic Belt. A glacier located on the north side has undergone severe ablation since the volcano reinitiated eruptive activity in December 1994. In our study, we calculate the extent of the glacier recession and the loss in glacial mass balance during the period of greatest laharic activity (1994–2002), using photogrammetric treatment of 20 pairs of aerial photographs. The results indicate that from November 1997 to December 2002, the glacier released approximately 3 967 000 m3 of water. A period of intense glacier melting occurred from 4 November 2000 to 15 March 2001 during which time 717 000 m3 of water was released. Much of the melting was attributed to the pyroclastic flow that took place on 22 January 2001 and produced a 14.2 km lahar with 68 000 m3 of water. Among the many types of volcanic events, pyroclastic flows were the most effective in causing sudden snowmelt, although small explosions were also effective since they deposited incandescent material on the glacier. The collapse of the plinian columns covered the glacier with pyroclasts and increased its volume. The existence of control points for georeferencing and a knowledge of the topography underlying the glacier previous to the eruption would have provided more accurate and useful results for hazard prevention.

Sedimentological processes in lahars: Insights from optically stimulated luminescence analysis

“…A glacier of~1.3 × 10 5 m 2 is found on the volcano's north face (Andrés et al, 2007), and just below the glacier is the upper end of the Tenenepanco gorge (c. 4800 m elevation). Between c. 4800 m and c. 4435 m till deposits can be found on the volcano (Palacios, 1996).…”

Assessing lahars from ice-capped volcanoes using ASTER satellite data, the SRTM DTM and two different flow models: case study on Iztaccíhuatl (Central Mexico)

“…Since 1994, when the recent eruptive activity of Popocatépetl volcano began, lahars related to ice melting developed in 1997 and 2001. Both events reached the nearby village of Santiago Xalitzintla, which is located 14 km away from the summit (Julio Miranda and Delgado Granados, 2003;Capra et al, 2004;Julio Miranda et al, 2005;Andrés et al, 2007).…”

Geomorphological evolution of a fluvial channel after primary lahar deposition: Huiloac Gorge, Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico)

“…The most recent major eruption at Popocatépetl took place on 19 July 2003, and since then a series of smaller eruptions have reduced the glacier almost to extinction (Julio-Miranda and Delgado-Granados, 2003;Julio-Miranda et al, 2005, 2008Tanarro et al, 2005;Andrés et al, 2007;Delgado et al, 2007). From November 1982 to August 2003, it lost about 78% of its ice mass (Andrés et al, 2007).…”