Posted on 02/02/2010 7:06:54 PM PST by Steve Van Doorn
Since January 17, 2010 Yellowstone has had the second largest swarm ever recorded. The swarms have been steady at about 10 miles in depth and they have subsided a few days ago.
In the past two days the depth has raised up to around 7 miles and in the past couple hours quakes vastly increased.
http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/ymr_webi.htm
http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/111-44.html
Remember this doesn’t mean we will see an eruption and it most likely means a normal volcano. It is very unlikely we will see a caldera eruption.
But these changes are significant and cannot be over looked
Some history:
Since the most recent giant caldera-forming eruption, 640,000 years ago, approximately 80 relatively nonexplosive eruptions have occurred. Of these eruptions, at least 27 were rhyolite lava flows in the caldera, 13 were rhyolite lava flows outside the caldera and 40 were basalt vents outside the caldera. Some of the eruptions were approximately the size of the devastating 1991 Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines, and several were much larger. The most recent volcanic eruption at Yellowstone, a lava flow on the Pitchstone Plateau, occurred 70,000 years ago.
I am certainly no earthquake expert but I think a “swarm” is a lot of very small tremors in a short period of time.
Many small quakes occurring in a short period of time.
“So much for that elk hunt I have been saving for.”
On the positive side, hopefully the ash cloud won’t make it to the middle of Iowa if it goes off.
On the other side; our record winter would probably continue for another 12 months all the way through 2010 and beyond.
Super Volcano there isn’t it?
Thanks for letting us know. I have texted my 12 y.o. Granddaughter to alert her to the email link I sent her.
Well, it doesn’t sound like bees or locusts....
I had no clue what the title was referring to, not being familiar with USGS terminology.
Perhaps the mods could do something with the title so that people will know it’s about volcanoes?
Is that still active or is it just a crack in the earth that could reopen again.
How big is the opening at Yellowstone?
I am not a geologist but I wonder if the openings are so big now that the pressure would be lessened than what happened millions of year ago or if it happened again it would spew the ash and magma with the same force.
How big is the opening? I though with volcanoes that the cone builds up and a relatively small opening then blows due to the pressure.
So it will actually be a good thing. Other areas of the country will wish for their own eruption!
I figured that was what it was, but I wanted to make sure you weren't talking about bees. ;)
Interesting, but not so bad...now.
When you see a story when a bunch of animals and birds leave Yellowstone at once fast, then you know something is up..
What is the standard for a first stage alert? Who calls it, the USGS? Is it an alert for a full on volcanic supersized eruption, or just an alert for explosive hydrothermal activity that would be very localized?
Are you monitoring Madison River?
Yes, super volcano. It it were to blow, it’d be devastating...and that my dear, is an understatement.
Oh never mind, I see the original link is the one for Madison River. .....:-)
LOL. Reminds me of a little tidbit I saw during a SyFi disaster movie - If you suddenly see all of the animals running in one direction... follow them.
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