Geology News
Mexico Current Events

Archaeologists have discovered nearly 5,000 paintings in a small group of caves in northeastern Mexico. The paintings are pre-Hispanic, more accurate dates are being determined.

When Did Plate Tectonics Begin?

Large Impact on the Moon

Mount St. Helens – 33 Years

Fee Mining Sites

Popocatepetl Eruption

History of the Prime Meridian

The Orphan Tsunami of 1700

“Mexico imported a record volume of natural gas in 2012, about 2.1 billion cubic feet per day, which was up 21% from 2011. Natural gas flows from U.S. pipelines accounted for about 80% of Mexico’s overall natural gas imports in 2012.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.

Discovery News has a gallery of photos from the Popocatepetl eruption.

“U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico grew by 24% to 1.69 billion cubic feet per day in 2012 the highest level since the data collection began in 1973.

With imports now accounting for over 30% of its total supply, Mexico’s natural gas use is also at its highest level ever.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration.

“Mexico’s Popocatépetl Volcano released a plume in early March 2013. On March 8, Volcano Discovery reported an ash plume reaching roughly 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above the volcano crater, or about 7 kilometers (4 miles) above sea level.” Quoted from the NASA image release.

Oil production in Mexico has been declining. Now the government there has a renewed effort to attract outside investments from major oil companies.

“Mexico is a major non-OPEC oil producer and among the largest sources of U.S. crude oil imports. However, Mexico is a net importer of refined petroleum products and natural gas from the United States, and Mexico’s position as a net oil exporter has declined in recent years along with its oil production levels.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration.

USGS has reported several earthquakes between M4.0 and M5.4 south of Salton Sea near El Centro, California.

For a list of these events click here.

Tropical storm Ernesto has passed across Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. It is expected to pass over the extreme southern portion of the Bay of Campeche producing heavy rains and tropical storm winds.

Tropical Storm Ernesto is slowly moving northwestward towards the Yucatan Peninsula. It is expected to strengthen and reach hurricane force on Tuesday.

“Fabio formed as a tropical depression over the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 12, 2012, and strengthened into a tropical storm within hours. On July 13, Fabio became the eastern Pacific’s fifth hurricane of the 2012 season.” Today, Fabio is a category one hurricane moving slowly towards the Baja peninsula. Quote from NASA.

Exports of natural gas from the United States have been rising rapidly. Most of these exports are leaving the country by pipeline into Canada and Mexico.

“The CO2 geological storage information in this Atlas was developed to provide a high-level overview of CO2 geological storage potential across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The location and areal extent of promising geological storage formations and the CO2 resource estimates presented in this Atlas are intended to be used as an initial assessment of potential geological storage opportunities.” Quote from the Atlas introduction.

An article on the MSNBC website explores the possible threats presented by activity at Mexico’s Popocatepetl Volcano. At the top of the list are lahars, speedy flows of water, mud, ash, rocks, plants and other debris that flow down the flanks of the volcano.

Erik Klemetti is following the current activity at Mexico’s Popocatépetl Volcano. It is producing explosions, numerous steam / ash plumes and presents significant hazards in a major eruption.

The United States imports approximately 69% of its crude oil from five countries: Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Nigeria.

Following his look back at the 1982 eruption at El Chichón volcano in Mexico, Erik Klemetti has a new blog post titled: “What the Future May Hold for El Chichón”.

Erik Klemetti has posted a detailed blog post about the March-April, 1983 VEI 5 eruption of El Chichón volcano in Mexico.

Erik Klemetti comments on a small volcanic eruption in Mexico that occurred at about the same time as the Oaxaca Earthquake. Many people speculate that the two events are related.

CNN has an early report on the damage done by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck near Acapulco, Mexico shortly after noon today local time. Hundreds of houses have collapsed.

USGS Image

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred in the Oaxaca Region of Mexico at about 12:03 PM local time.