Super Volcano in Yellowstone

okirun · 01-09-2009, 03:41 PM

I'm not sure if this was already posted, but I consider this interesting

Yellowstone National Park is rising. Its central region, called the Yellowstone caldera, has been moving upward since mid-2004 at a rate of up to three inches (seven centimeters) a year—more than three times faster than has ever been measured.

The surface is inflating like a bellows due to an infusion of magma about 6 miles (10 kilometers) underground, according to a new study published in tomorrow's issue of the journal Science.

But that doesn't mean Yellowstone is about to go the way of Mount St. Helens.

"There's no evidence of an imminent eruption or hydrothermal explosion," said Robert Smith, a geophysics professor at the University of Utah who co-authored the study.

Yellowstone is situated on a giant, geologically active feature known as a supervolcano.

"It's hundreds of times bigger than Mount St. Helens," Smith said, referring to the active volcano in Washington State.

Much of the park sits in a caldera, or crater, some 40 miles (70 kilometers) across, which formed when the cone of the massive volcano collapsed in a titanic eruption 640,000 years ago.

The supervolcano has produced three similarly large blasts in the past two million years, with 30 smaller eruptions since the caldera formed.

The volcano's most recent flare-up was 70,000 years ago, and volcanic heat continues to fuel the park's famous geysers and hot springs.

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kidflash2008 · 01-10-2009, 09:34 AM

There has been much more seismic activity in the region. Perhaps there will be an eruption in the next few years. People tend to forget Yellowstone is an ACTIVE volcano.

okirun · 01-12-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidflash2008

There has been much more seismic activity in the region. Perhaps there will be an eruption in the next few years. People tend to forget Yellowstone is an ACTIVE volcano.

I hope not, theres already too much on our plate.

Monkey · 01-12-2009, 11:40 PM

Jan 2009,

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Run for your lives ... Yellowstone's going to explode!

Hundreds of small earthquakes at Yellowstone National Park in recent weeks have been an unsettling reminder for some people that underneath the park's famous geysers and majestic scenery lurks one of the world's biggest volcanoes.

In the ancient past, the volcano has erupted 1,000 times more powerfully than the 1980 blast at Mount St. Helens, hurling ash as far away as Louisiana. No eruption that big has occurred while humans have walked the earth, however, and geologists say even a minor lava flow is extremely unlikely any time soon.

Some observers are nonetheless warning of imminent catastrophe.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28591072/Read More

kidflash2008 · 01-13-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okirun

I hope not, theres already too much on our plate.

I should clarify that I would not like the volcano to create any damage, but the activities do show it may erupt soon. People should be careful if heading there for vacation.

01-09-2009, 03:41 PM	#1
okirun Investigator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 225	Super Volcano in Yellowstone I'm not sure if this was already posted, but I consider this interesting Yellowstone National Park is rising. Its central region, called the Yellowstone caldera, has been moving upward since mid-2004 at a rate of up to three inches (seven centimeters) a year—more than three times faster than has ever been measured. The surface is inflating like a bellows due to an infusion of magma about 6 miles (10 kilometers) underground, according to a new study published in tomorrow's issue of the journal Science. But that doesn't mean Yellowstone is about to go the way of Mount St. Helens. "There's no evidence of an imminent eruption or hydrothermal explosion," said Robert Smith, a geophysics professor at the University of Utah who co-authored the study. Yellowstone is situated on a giant, geologically active feature known as a supervolcano. "It's hundreds of times bigger than Mount St. Helens," Smith said, referring to the active volcano in Washington State. Much of the park sits in a caldera, or crater, some 40 miles (70 kilometers) across, which formed when the cone of the massive volcano collapsed in a titanic eruption 640,000 years ago. The supervolcano has produced three similarly large blasts in the past two million years, with 30 smaller eruptions since the caldera formed. The volcano's most recent flare-up was 70,000 years ago, and volcanic heat continues to fuel the park's famous geysers and hot springs. MORE __________________ "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether this happens at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps on learning not only remains young, but becomes constantly more valuable regardless of physical capacity." Last edited by okirun; 01-09-2009 at 03:42 PM.

01-12-2009, 11:40 PM	#4
Monkey Junior Investigator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: currently on Earth, in CT Posts: 56	More recently.... Jan 2009, CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Run for your lives ... Yellowstone's going to explode! Hundreds of small earthquakes at Yellowstone National Park in recent weeks have been an unsettling reminder for some people that underneath the park's famous geysers and majestic scenery lurks one of the world's biggest volcanoes. In the ancient past, the volcano has erupted 1,000 times more powerfully than the 1980 blast at Mount St. Helens, hurling ash as far away as Louisiana. No eruption that big has occurred while humans have walked the earth, however, and geologists say even a minor lava flow is extremely unlikely any time soon. Some observers are nonetheless warning of imminent catastrophe. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28591072/Read More

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01-10-2009, 09:34 AM	#2
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,726	There has been much more seismic activity in the region. Perhaps there will be an eruption in the next few years. People tend to forget Yellowstone is an ACTIVE volcano.