Quantification of the 1998–1999 explosion sequence at Popocatépetl volcano, Mexico

The sequence of large Vulcanian explosions occurring at the andesitic Popocatépetl volcano, Mexico during November 1998 to April 1999 was studied. The size of 26 largest explosions was estimated from broadband seismic records at the distance of 4 km from the crater. The sequence began with the largest explosion (E = 2.6 × 1012 J) occurring on 25 November at 08:05, and following largest daily explosions were characterized by gradual decrease in the energy. The energy of 20 large (E ≥ 1011 J) explosions was distributed as Studentʹs t-distribution with a geometrical mean Log E = 11.81 (J).