Popo story from Stanley N. Williams

Stanley M. Williams sent the following,

Hi, Chuck Wood asked me for my perspective, having been at work on Popo for more than three years and there two weeks ago. It is not crazy to go to Mexico because of the volcano. It is likely that the participants will have the fun of having ash rain down on their heads, if they stay for a few weeks. Popo has entered a different time for activity to shift from having been awesome for being so passive to being more typical- small ash eruptions. The crater is not as open as it was because a new dome is acting sort of like a cork and that means that some pressure builds up and it pops, instead of just freely releasing all of the gases. I do not see that Puebla is likely to be hit by a dangerous eruption. Even if it really gets exciting, Puebla is far enough away that it is not at likely to be hit by a pyroclastic flow or mudflow. Lava is of no danger to Puebla. Ash is the most serious danger, if it really becomes extreme. It is not seriously poisonous, just makes short circuits on all of the electric connections (which is true of Mexico anyway), so it could make people really worried. If it goes extreme, then rooftops of the poor homes could collapse and kill those people. Being safe is just like living in LA and being prepared for an earthquake- get under the strongest table in the corner of a room, etc.

Driving on the roads, with maniac taxi drivers, is much more dangerous than the volcano. Just be respective of living in a country like Mexico. Having the potential for ash falling on one's head is just another exciting experience.
Good luck.
stan

Stanley N. Williams, Professor of Volcanology
Department of Geology
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1404 USA

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