The geological history of Popocatépetl began with the formation of the ancestral volcano Nexpayantla. About 200,000 years ago, Nexpayantla collapsed in an eruption, leaving a caldera, in which the next volcano, known as El Fraile, began to form. Another eruption about 50,000 years ago caused that to collapse, and Popocatépetl rose from that. Around 23,000 years ago, a lateral eruption (believed to be larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens) destroyed the volcano's ancient cone and created an avalanche that reached up to 70 kilometres (43 mi) from the summit. The debris field from that is one of four around the volcano, and it is also the youngest.[1]

Three Plinian eruptions are known to have taken place: 3,000 years ago (3195–2830 BC), 2,150 years ago (800–215 BC), and 1,100 years ago (likely 823 AD).[1] The latter two buried the nearby village of Tetimpa, preserving evidence of preclassical culture.[2]

The first recorded European ascent of the volcano was made by an expedition led by Diego de Ordaz in 1519.[3]: 182  The early-16th-century monasteries on the slopes of the mountain are a World Heritage Site.

Eruptions

Popocatépetl is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico and the most famous,[4] having had more than 15 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519.

TimelineMid-to late first century: A violent VEI-6 eruption may have caused the large migrations that settled Teotihuacan, according to DNA analysis of teeth and bones.[5] Eruptions were observed in 1363, 1509, 1512, 1519–1528, 1530, 1539, 1540, 1548, 1562–1570, 1571, 1592, 1642, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1697, 1720, 1802, 1919, 1923, 1925, and 1933.[6] 1947: A major eruption.[citation needed] 21 December 1994: The volcano spewed gas and ash, which was carried as far as 25 km (16 mi) away by prevailing winds. The activity prompted the evacuation of nearby towns and scientists to begin monitoring for an eruption.[7] December 2000: Tens of thousands of people were evacuated by the government, based on the warnings of scientists. The volcano then made its largest display in 1,200 years.[8][9][10][11] 25 December 2005: The volcano's crater produced an explosion which ejected a large column of smoke and ash about 3 km (9,800 ft) into the atmosphere and expulsion of lava.[citation needed] January and February 2012: Scientists observed increased volcanic activity at Popocatépetl. On January 25, 2012, an ash explosion occurred on the mountain, causing much dust and ash to contaminate the atmosphere around it.[7] 15 April 2012: Reports of superheated rock fragments being hurled into the air by the volcano. Ash and water vapor plumes were reported 15 times over 24 hours.[12] Wednesday 8 May 2013, at 7:28 p.m. local time: Popocatépetl erupted again with a high amplitude tremor that lasted and was recorded for 3.5 hours. It began with plumes of ash that rose 3 km (9,800 ft) into the air and began drifting west at first, but later began to drift east-southeast, covering areas of the villages of San Juan Tianguismanalco, San Pedro Benito Juárez and the City of Puebla in smoke and ash. Explosions from the volcano itself subsequently ejected fragments of fiery volcanic rock to distances of 700 m (2,300 ft) from the crater.[13][14] July 4, 2013: Due to several eruptions of steam and ash for at least 24 hours, at least six U.S. airlines canceled more than 40 flights into and out of Mexico City International Airport and Toluca International Airport that day.[15] 27 August–September 2014: CENAPRED reported explosions, accompanied by steam-and-gas emissions with minor ash and ash plumes that rose 800-3,000 m above Popocatépetl's crater and drifted west, southwest, and west-southwest. On most nights incandescence was observed, increasing during times with larger emissions.[16] 1 September 2014: Partial visibility due to cloud cover.[17] 29 and 31 August 2014: The Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) reported discrete ash emissions.[6] 7 January 2015: CENAPRED reported that ash from recent explosions coats the snow on the volcano's upper slopes.[18] 28 March 2016: An ash column 2,000 m (6,600 ft) high was released, prompting the establishment of a 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) "security ring" around the summit.[19] 3 April 2016: Popocatépetl erupted, spewing lava, ash and rock.[20] August 2016: Eruptions continued, with four discrete blasts on August 17.[21] 10 November 2017 at 7:25 local time, eruption continued.[6] 15 December 2018 at 18:57 local time, spewing lava, ash and rock.[22] 22 January 2019 21:06 local time, spewing ash up 3 km (9,800 ft) high and incandescent fragments 2 km away.[23] 19 March 2019 21:38 local time, fragments of the dome shot within 1.6–2.4-kilometre (1–1+1⁄2 mi) radius.[24] Due to continuing activity, on March 28 2019, based on the analysis of the available information, the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Popocatépetl volcano recommended changing the phase of the Yellow Volcanic Warning Light Phase 2 to Yellow Phase 3, which is a preventive measure against the observed changes.[25] June 3, 2019 Popocatépetl continued its explosive uptick by firing an ash column to approximately 11 km (37,000 ft) a.s.l.[26] June 18, 2019 Popocatépetl continued to erupt, spewing ash clouds to 8.5 km (28,000 ft).[27] June 24, 2019 Popocatépetl erupted once more, sending a massive ash cloud some kilometres (thousands of feet) into the air.[28] July 18, 2019 Popocatépetl erupts three times, sending ashes 1.5 km (4,900 ft) into the air each time.[29] July 20, 2019, volcanic ash is reported in Xochimilco after the morning's eruption.[30] October 2019, the volcano erupted multiple times in one night.[31] November 2019, an eruption partially forced a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Mexico City to turn back.[32] January 9, 2020 Popocatépetl expelled lava and rock and sent ash clouds to 6.1 km (20,000 ft).[33] January 27. 2020 Popocatépetl erupted in a sensational nighttime display of rock and ash.[34][35] February 5, 2020 Popocatépetl had a moderate explosion producing an ash plume that went up 1.5 km. Had more explosions on February 15, 18, and 22 having ash plumes rising that ranged from 400- 1,200 m.[36] December 19, 2022 Popocatépetl emitted materials up to one kilometer high [37]