Yellowstone's Explosive Secret

  • Thread starter Ivan Seeking
  • Start date
In summary, the "Yellowstone's Explosive Secret" is the discovery of a massive supervolcano located underneath the Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It is estimated to be about 55 miles long, 20 miles wide, and 9,000 feet deep, making it one of the largest known supervolcanoes in the world. The last major eruption occurred approximately 640,000 years ago, but smaller eruptions have happened since then. If it were to erupt, it could have a catastrophic impact on the environment and human life, but there is currently no way to predict when this might happen.
  • #1
Ivan Seeking
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
8,142
1,756
..."The bottom line is we still don't know all that much about what's going on at Yellowstone," says Heasler.

So he takes the job of keeping visitors safe seriously, constantly monitoring temperatures.

And that's not always easy. A trail near the Norris Geyser was closed last summer and is still boiling hot enough to burn through shoes. [continued]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/23/eveningnews/main608243.shtml
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
  • #2
a massive bulging dome the size of seven football fields
Gives me ideas of new winter sports for snowmobilers.
 
  • #3
Crazy things happen on them dang calderas.

- Warren
 

1. What is the "Yellowstone's Explosive Secret"?

The "Yellowstone's Explosive Secret" refers to the discovery of a massive supervolcano located underneath the Yellowstone National Park in the United States. This supervolcano has the potential to cause a catastrophic eruption that could have a global impact.

2. How big is the supervolcano under Yellowstone?

The supervolcano under Yellowstone is estimated to be about 55 miles long, 20 miles wide, and 9,000 feet deep. It is one of the largest known supervolcanoes in the world and is capable of producing an eruption that is thousands of times more powerful than a typical volcanic eruption.

3. When was the supervolcano under Yellowstone last erupted?

The last major eruption of the supervolcano under Yellowstone occurred approximately 640,000 years ago. However, there have been smaller eruptions and volcanic activity in the area since then, with the most recent one happening about 70,000 years ago.

4. What would happen if the supervolcano under Yellowstone erupted?

If the supervolcano under Yellowstone were to erupt, it would release a massive amount of ash, gas, and rock into the atmosphere, causing widespread destruction and potentially affecting the Earth's climate. The initial blast would be followed by years of volcanic activity and ash fall, which could have a significant impact on the environment and human life.

5. Is there any way to predict when the supervolcano under Yellowstone will erupt?

Currently, there is no way to accurately predict when the supervolcano under Yellowstone will erupt. Scientists closely monitor the area for any signs of increased activity, such as earthquakes or changes in gas emissions. However, it is impossible to predict an eruption with certainty, and it could happen at any time, whether it be in the near future or thousands of years from now.

Similar threads

Replies
16
Views
5K
  • General Discussion
4
Replies
114
Views
12K
  • General Discussion
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
109
Views
54K
  • STEM Academic Advising
Replies
13
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
1
Views
2K
Back
Top