Image: ISS018-E-028898 Summit of Popocatepetl Volcano, Mexico

Description: Volcan Popocatepetl, a large stratovolcano located approximately 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City, is considered by many volcanologists to be “the planet’s riskiest volcano.” The volcano warrants this distinction because of how close it is to one of the most densely populated megacities on Earth: near 23 million people lived in Mexico City in 2009. The variety of potential volcanic hazards at Popocatepetl is also considerable, including explosive eruptions of ash, pyroclastic flows (hot, fluid avalanches of rock fragments and gas), and debris avalanches. This detailed astronaut photograph of the summit crater of Popocatepetl (image center) also highlights Ventorillo and Noroccidental Glaciers. Together with the ice on nearby Iztaccíhuatl Volcano and Pico de Orizaba (Mexico’s highest peak and the highest volcano in North America), Popocatepetl’s glaciers are the only mountain glaciers in tropical North America. The glaciers create yet another volcanic hazard: dangerous mudflows, or lahars, if the ice were to melt during an eruption. At the time this image was taken, steam and ash plumes were observed at the volcano. A faint white steam plume is visible against gray ash deposits on the eastern and southern flanks of the volcano.

ISS Crew Earth Observations: ISS018-E-28898

Identification

Mission

ISS018 (Expedition 18)

Roll

E

Frame

28898

Country or Geographic Name

MEXICO

Features

POPOCATEPETL VOLCANO, SUMMIT CRATER

Center Point Latitude

19.0° N

Center Point Longitude

-98.6° E

Camera

Camera Tilt

22°

Camera Focal Length

800 mm

Camera

Nikon D2Xs

Film

4288 x 2848 pixel CMOS sensor, RGBG imager color filter.

Quality

Percentage of Cloud Cover

0-10%

Nadir What is Nadir?

Date

2009-02-07

Time

15:05:24

Nadir Point Latitude

19.7° N

Nadir Point Longitude

-97.5° E

Nadir to Photo Center Direction

Southwest

Sun Azimuth

119°

Spacecraft Altitude

189 nautical miles (350 km)

Sun Elevation Angle

26°

Orbit Number

2557
Usage Terms: Public domain