Posted on 12/13/2013 6:20:25 PM PST by TroutGuy
The supervolcano that lies beneath Yellowstone National Park in the US is far larger than was previously thought, scientists report.
A study shows that the magma chamber is about 2.5 times bigger than earlier estimates suggested.
A team found the cavern stretches for more than 90km (55 miles) and contains 200-600 cubic km of molten rock.
The findings are being presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
Prof Bob Smith, from the University of Utah, said: “We’ve been working there for a long time, and we’ve always thought it would be bigger... but this finding is astounding."
If the Yellowstone supervolcano were to blow today, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The last major eruption, which occurred 640,000 years ago, sent ash across the whole of North America, affecting the planet’s climate.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
One thing about volcanoes— they never listen.
BTW, the previous hot spot eruptions blew apart mountains as it trailed to its current at Yellowstone. Check out the path it made through the mountainous terrain in post 12.
trailed = traveled
How about a massive sideways drilling project starting way up in Canada to vent the magma off in about 40 different directions across the northern territories, producing a bunch of smaller and short lived volcanoes, relieving the pressure in Yellowstone and priming Canada for some great volcanic soil during the next interglacial about 100,000 years from now?
Yellowstone volcanos explodes!!!! Women, children and minorities hit hardest!!!! Film at ELEVEN!!!
Yeah, you eventually get good soil from volcanoes. Eventually. Initially, however, any ashfall greater than several inches will suffocate the living organisms in the soil and leave it sterile. So say goodbye to much of our agricultural production for a few generations if it blows.
How about a massive sideways drilling project starting way up in Canada to vent the magma off in about 40 different directions across the northern territories, producing a bunch of smaller and short lived volcanoes, relieving the pressure in Yellowstone and priming Canada for some great volcanic soil during the next interglacial about 100,000 years from now?
The whole Earth groans, and cries because of the sin of the people that live on it’s crust. An ancient book speaks about the Earth vomiting out its inhabitants.
The whole Earth groans, and cries because of the sin of the people that live on it’s crust. An ancient book speaks about the Earth vomiting out its inhabitants.
Really? Because I thought that there was this ancient book about a benevolent being who created the earth than put man, it’s inhabitants, upon it to use it for “their” good. or was I mistaken?
OoooooKAY, how about a sideways drilling project to vent it all in Mecca?
Would that be enough muslim outreach?
How can that be if the Earth is only 6000 years old?
Yellowstone magma/lava is generally rhyolitic. In other words, it’s made of the same stuff as granite, rich in silica. I think good soils only come from basaltic and possibly andesitic lavas. Andesitic is a combination of the two.
Perhaps Einstein had the answer: time is relative. :)
Nah, toss in popcorn!
Well heck, let’s just start fracking there. Pump the molten rock up and make bricks.
When it blows, it should lower the price of counter tops! ;-)
I wouldn’t take that for granite...
Not according to traditional believers in our newest state. Pele, the volcano god, can be appeased. Find the most important Hawaiian you can and feed him to the volcano.
Well yeah , a supereruption will kill most of us.
Could happen tomorrow, could happen in a thousand years.
Nobody knows. But based on past history it’s overdue and
Statistically will happen again.
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