What kind of volcano is Pico de Orizaba?

Pico de Orizaba is classified as a Stratovolcano in Mexico. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Pico de Orizaba monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

MéxicoValle de México (Ciudad de México)

Glacier-capped summit of Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltepetl), Mexico

Photo:Gerardo Carrasco-Núñezvia Smithsonian GVP

Volcano Dossier•GVP #341100

19.03°N, 97.27°W

Historical eruption

México→

Volcano Pico de Orizaba

El Citlaltépetl, «monte de la estrella» en náhuatl, es la cumbre más alta de México y el volcán más alto de Norteamérica. Tranquilo desde 1846, todavía alberga los mayores glaciares del país, que retroceden con rapidez, y una nueva erupción amenazaría a las poblaciones de Puebla y Veracruz a sus pies.

Last Eruption

1846

Historical eruption

Summit Elevation

5.6 km

Estratovolcán · Andesita / Andesita basáltica

Seismic State

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

Hora	Magnitud	Epicentro / Ubicación	Distancia	Profundidad
9d ago	M3.2	18 km al SO de Orizaba (México)	36 km	12.4 km
1mo ago	M3.3	74 km al E de Puebla de Zaragoza (México)	24 km	66.1 km
1mo ago	M3.3	74 km al E de Puebla de Zaragoza (México)	24 km	66.1 km
2mo ago	M3.3	55 km al E de Puebla de Zaragoza (México)	43 km	5 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Estratovolcán

Pico de Orizaba is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeEstratovolcán

Major RockAndesita / Andesita basáltica

Tectonic SettingZona de subducción

Volcanic ArcArco volcánico transmexicano

Volcanic Dossier

VN #341100

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

PaísMéxico

Coordenadas del cráter19.030°, -97.270°

Summit Elevation5.6 km

SubregionArco volcánico transmexicano

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#341100)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatorySSN / CENAPRED

Servicio Sismológico Nacional / CENAPRED

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

Washington VAAC (NOAA / NESDIS)

College Park, MD, USA

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Perfil sísmico regional

Valle de México (Ciudad de México)

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Valle de México (Ciudad de México).

Abrir centro regional

Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)

Protocolos científicos, operativos y de emergencia verificados

The most recent eruption of Pico de Orizaba recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 1846.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile