Thread: Yellowstone

I have read many articles about the Yellowstone super volcano. And it appears to me that there are a fair amount of varying sides as to the impact as well as time frame of possible future eruptions. I want to know what others think about the data presented on this. And does anybody know somewhere i can go to see raw data on this topic?

Tuff... I can only respond on this from general knowledge,.. which is all over the internet.

Yellowstone is a Super Volcano.
Timeframe for BOOM?

If I am to judge science on it provided all over the internet,.... it is overdue for an eruption. So it will go BOOM anytime soon, if well guessed statistics ruled the world.

But have you any specific articles in mind you want us to look at?

Or do you want us responders to generally select whatever is available on the web for reference and link it here,.... thereby nullifying any attempt on this subject to make any sence,.. as we all can provide our 2 cent links, saying and claiming whatever we want?

No disrepsect intended to your OP.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120920-yellowstone-supervolcano-prediction-volcanoes-science-environment/

and

http://yellowstone.net/geology/volcano/

It is due in terms of a geologic time frame. As to the acutal when, this is much much harder to say, as the current activity of the caldera is stable. See the Yellowstone Volcano observatory for more information USGS: Volcano Hazards Program Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

To emphasise Paleoichnium's points: if the intervals between previous eruptions is taken as the norm, then an eruption is due now. Now in geological terms is not the same as now in human terms. Moreover, we have no basis on which to expect that the eruptions would proceed with a comparable frequency with those in the past.

The information presented in the technical journals is sober and objective. Unfortunately, several of the popular media, which are the easiest to locate on the internet, seek to dramatise the event. That said, the eruption of the super-volcano at Lake Toba about 70,000 years ago likely came close to wiping out homo sapiens, so its not an issue we should treat lightly.

You may find these research papers of interest:
http://www.uusatrg.utah.edu/PAPERS/2007chang.pdf
https://rock.geosociety.org/gsatoday...173-22-9-4.htm

Originally Posted by John Galt

Now in geological terms is not the same as now in human terms.

i am thinking on this statement. Hope?

Originally Posted by sir ir r aj

Originally Posted by John Galt

Now in geological terms is not the same as now in human terms.

i am thinking on this statement. Hope?

Eh? What I think is intended is that "now" on a geological timescale could be "today +/- 100,000 years". Obviously a lot can happen to the human race in a hundredth of that time. Meanwhile, presumably the fact there are only modest signs of awakening puts some time limit on how soon it might be on a human timescale. So maybe a degree of hope, plus a big dash of fatalism, but moderated in the short term (say a few generations?) by some mildly reassuring science. I note that the most likely from of activity is thought to be activity within the caldera rather than a cataclysmic magma outpouring and that the former is given an annual likelihood of between 2 and 6 in a hundred thousand.

Those are some pretty good chances for it to not happen during our lifetime. Very nice articles John Galt that is actually the information i was looking for. It does appear that the activity has been on the rise in recent years. Though it may not signify that there will be an eruption anytime soon it will be interesting to see if the current pattern holds with the exception of increased intensity over time. Though i can say i don't like the idea of large scale pryoclastic flows, it does look grim for those who are in America at the time to see it blow.