The incident at Paricutin would be the first time scientists

would be able to observe a volcano from birth through

extinction.
Paricutin was very active in its first year, growing to fourfifths of its final 1,353 foot (424m) height. During the peak
of its activity that year, ashes from the volcano drifted as
far as 200 miles to the east and fell on Mexico City. With
each following year, however, the volcano became less
active until, after a final spectacular spasm, it finally went
dormant in 1952.

Volcanoes come in three basic types.

Shield volcanoa es are broad, dome-like structures that can grow to over
60 miles (100km) wide. Instead of violent, explosive eruptions they are
characterized by steady lava fountains and flows that broaden the size of
the volcano.
Stratovolcanoes are the most violent and dangerous of volcanoes. Their
slopes rise slowly at first and then become very steep with a narrow vent
at the top. Stratovolcanoes often have explosive eruptions, and then go
dormant for decades or even centuries.
The final type of volcano is one like Paricutin, a scoria cone. This type of
volcano can appear suddenly and build a large conic-shaped mountain
with steep slopes. They often erupt for less than a decade, then go
dormant and never erupt again.

VOLCANOES IN GUATEMALA
Santiaguito: Stratovolcano Active
Atitln: Stratovolcano - Dormant
Fuego: Stratovolcano Active
Agua: Stratovolcano Dormant
Pacaya: Complex volcano Active Complex volcanoes
are mixed landforms. In most cases, they occur because
of changes either in eruptive habit or in location of the
principal vent area.