Everybody thinks that people will die if a massive volcano happens at Yellowstone. Not necessarily so. We could see a volcano explosion 500 times more powerful than Mount St. Helens and that does not mean anybody will die. Except maybe a few squirrels and maybe a grizzly bear or two.
However, the effects on live stock and crops would cause starvation...and the ash could remain in the atmosphere for up to 6 years. We could be talking about snowstorms in August in Georgia.
Well here is my question again and a freeper posted - the width:
“about 34 miles by 45 miles, according to WikiPedia.”
Big Volcanos like the scary ba*tard that is baby Krakatoa building up in the S Pacfic usually build up into a mountain overtime. The beast in the S Paficif grew from the seabed growing and growing.
At the top or the opening (foget the technical term again - cone??) It fairly narrow. The pressure builds and eventually blows.
Now a caldera is sunken in and really wide. Do scientist have any way of know if it was a caldera when it blew??
If it is 34 by 45 miles across can the pressure be relieved so it may never blow with the same force? Any geologists here?
I was within 10 miles of Mt. St. Helens the day before it blew. I think nearly 50 people died in the vicinity. Something 500 times as big would kill thousands at the least. This is even considering the fact that Wyoming, eastern Montana, western South Dakota and Nebraska are sparsely populated.
20 people or so died in the St. Helen eruption VEI 5, but a VEI of 9 or better means is really bad. None of us can imagine how bad - even the TV versions are only speculative. The last super volcano erution in human history (Mt Toba in 74,000 BC) nearly made the human race extinct. Yellowstone could do exactly the same. Do no underestimate Mother Nature’s fury.
The ash fall alone on roof tops: think someone pouring concrete on it. All modern roofs would collapse - so where would you find shelter? Don’t even imagine where you would find food - it would not be in the grocery store for starters.
Then there would be a winter lasting years. Got oil? Got electricity?