About Seismology in Mexico

Mexico is one of the most seismologically active areas on earth. Mexico sits on three of the large tectonic plates that constitute the earth's surface and the motion of these plates causes earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Most of the Mexican land rests on the westward moving North American plate and the Pacific Ocean floor off southern Mexico, is being carried northeast by the underlying Cocos Plate. 
 
Mexico has a long history of some big earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. For example, in September 1985, Mexico was hit with an 8.1 richter scale earthquake that was centered in the subduction zone off Acapulco. The earthquate killed more than 4,000 people in Mexico City, which was more than  300 kilometers away. 

Inregards to volcanic activity, the "Volcán de Colima" which is south of Guadalajara erupted in 1994 and "El Chichón" in southern Mexico underwent a big eruption in 1983. Creation of volcanos can also be drammatic, such as the "Parícutin" which is in northwest Mexico.  This volcano began as puffs of smoke in a cornfield in 1943 and a decade later the volcano was 2,700 meters high (Amazing!). Two notable and beautiful volcanos are the two dormant "Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl" also known as ("smoking warrior" and "white lady," respectively, in Nahuatl) which occasionally send out puffs of smoke clearly visible in Mexico City.

Read about Mexico's demographics >

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