Posted on 08/11/2008 9:30:34 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
How hot is the Yellowstone hotspot? At 80 kilometres beneath the Earth's surface it's about 1450° C, say researchers -- which, for a supervolcano, is only lukewarm.
That doesn't mean we won't get another eruption. The last explosion, some 642,000 years ago, created the Yellowstone caldera and blanketed half of the present day US in ash.
But Derek Schutt of Colorado State University believes the relatively tepid temperature means the supervolcano could be on its last legs...
The team determined that the temperature at [80 km depth] was likely to be between 50° C and 200° C hotter than the surrounding rock -- at least 1450° C...
This adds to suggestions that the plume has disconnected from its heat source in the Earth's core. If this is true, it means the plume could be dying -- and that the sequence of mega-eruptions could come to an end.
(Excerpt) Read more at environment.newscientist.com ...
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · | ||
|
|||
Gods |
I wasn't going to post it, but on second look, it's a dual list topic. :') |
||
· Mirabilis · Texas AM Anthropology News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · History or Science & Nature Podcasts · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
No more Hottie, huh?
Maybe they need to check further east for the next rising plume?
Quick! Send Paris Hilton to Yellowstone!
That would probably cool it off even further. I mean, what’s she got (besides money) that I haven’t got?
Hey, Nully!
Got chocolate?
Thanks for the ping. This supervolcano fascinates me. There is no theory about it that is anything more than a WAG*, because we simply don’t know enough. I’m interested that some areas of the park, the ground is warming above what was expected, which wouldn’t happen (I’m guessing) if the underground was “tepid” in volcano terms.
*WAG: wild-a$$ed guess.
Answer A: Internet videos.
Answer B: Chocolate...
Yes. Kahlúa filled, and Bailey's filled
OK, OK....
But I have MySpace and a chocolate supplier. So there.
Yum! You know where to find me! ;o]
i was in Yellowstone just a couple of weeks ago. It was so odd to realize that one is actually standing inside of a volcano.
inside a lukewarm caldera, at that. I just don't trust any theory that says it's permanently cooling off. There is absolutely no way to know that.
.....There is absolutely no way to know that....
By tracking the speed of seismic waves through the hotter and perhaps semi liquid plume, they may be able to estimate the temperature, but without long historical data, the trend is not known. One point is not a meaningful curve
To suggest coolling in the face of increased surface temps and bulging seems unrealistic
A collection of incurable diseases?
There is that...LOL!
I was hoping that was just an oversight on your part.
Er...yes. It was. This IS Monday. I think.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.