Popo Watch!!

While the usual volcano suspects are all belching and rumbling in minor fashion the one that the volcano world (and the world's largest city) is watching is Popocatépetl! The 17,800' mountain, in easy sight of Mexico City (on a clear day), is bulging and belching and rumbling and while that has been going on (and off) since 1994 the signs now are more ominous. Loud explosions, ash falls and a lava dome that continues to grow have local farmers and ranchers and the mexican government ready for evacuations. El Popo appears ready to blow!!

Mostly Quiet Ring of Fire

A little gas, a few quakes but no big action on the big active planet. Two Aleutian volcanoes and Kilauea let the US tie for tops on the list with Indonesia, also with three smoking mountain on it's vast archipelago.  Only 2 on the Kamchatka peninsula and while the western ring is quiet the eastern part of the ring starts belching in Mexico with Popo, then south into Guatemala, Colombia's Nevado Del Ruiz always needs watching with potential glacial melting leading to deadly lahars, the catastrophic mudflows caused when the hot part of earth and its icy cousin get together.  Ecuador and Chile remain on the list with long running eruptions and Etna continues to rumble and belch in Italy while Soufriere Hills' sulfur dioxide clouds will continue to keep the once lovely island of Montserrat off the tourist list of Caribbean destinations.