Scientists closely monitoring Yellowstone. 200 degree ground temperatures reported.

Idaho Observer ^

[Viking2002]

When Yellowstone does blow, some geologists predict that every living thing within six hundred miles is likely to die.

Man, I do not consider this a very good thing. This could make the Iranian earthquake look like a traffic accident.

[Viking2002]

Ah, I love optimism. :-)

[D Rider]

Oh my Manatee....you are the one for me.....

Name that tune kids

Ummm...Its a Veggie Tale. Darn, you would thing I would have that one memorized by now!

[Boot Hill]

Robert A. Cook, PE say:   "Like almost all else, the 600-mile "kill radius" is a little over-blown."

I'm not sure how you can make that assertion, given that nobody has witnessed such a super-volcano event before. Moreover, the geologic record that was spread across the U.S. of the last Yellowstone blast suggests that the 600 mile number may not be all that far off. My only purpose in responding to bd476 was to point out that IF 600 miles was the kill zone, then he had no basis for feeling safe and secure by virtue of his living in California. The event would be too violent and California is still too close.

I do not believe such an eruption is eminent nor that the author of the thread article presented any serious evidence of such. Significant changes in ground temperatures are not unusual in Yellowstone. The so-called 100 foot high magma bulge in Yellowstone lake is the figment of some writers vivid imagination. That underground thermal vents exist in that lake, is a fact that has been known since they first took water temperature readings there.

However, I do consider the next caldera event there to be a foregone conclusion, it is going to happen and will be violent beyond our wildest imaginations. I just don't see any evidence that it will occur anytime in the foreseeable future.

Can the event be forestalled by tapping into the magma, as you suggest, and bleeding off the pressure that causes the explosion? I have no idea, maybe there is a way to bleed off the dangerous buildup of pressure, but given our limited understanding of the forces that create such a super-volcano and caldera, you might just as easily find yourself the victim of unintended consequences.

--Boot Hill

[Robert A Cook PE]

Concur!

Please understand: Others have recommended bleeding off pressure.

I DON'T think it is a good idea. Not now, perhaps later, when we've learned to control pressures and materials and forces of that magnitude.

Like, after we've achieved the ability to move mountains.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

The article references a potentially apocalyptic scenario with at least tens of millions of fatalities. Although a series of subground nuclear explosions could eventually create measurable local ration levels above the surface in the form of encased magma or gas seepage, it would be difficult to calculate whether these levels would even be greater than ambient. Furthermore, it is highly doubtful that a worst case would have anywhere close to the effect that the dozens of above ground nuclear explosions during the last half century have had.

Given a comparison of the two potential alternatives, the effect of even the worst case radiation would be insignificant. Frankly, I am surprised someone with the credentials you claim would worry about this almost negligible side effect. None of the nuclear engineers I know would publically sensationalize such minor contamination. I hope that wasn't your intent.

[Quix]

Uhhhhh, what always is with my type?

Fascinating?

I could easily return the favor.

I think you could "technically" be right in some of your analysis and still miss some very accurate truths about the Yellowstone situation by maybe a 10's of thousands of miles, so to speak.

But I wouldn't want to argue those specifics. The tedium would be deadly, unfun, to me.

[Tench_Coxe]

Actually, the date is December 23, 2012. And According to the Long Count, the Mayan date is 4 Ahau 3 Kankin.
The creation day according to the calendar fell on 4 Ahau 8 Cumku. Creation will restart once the Mayan calendar 'zeroes' again, which is the latter date, not the former.

[Boot Hill]

Robert A. Cook, PE says:   "Others have recommended bleeding off pressure. I DON'T think it is a good idea. Not now, perhaps later, when we've learned to control pressures and materials and forces of that magnitude."

Amen, while fun to discuss and theorize about, any actual effort based on today's level of knowledge could never be described as being based on any serious science. It would have more akin with witchcraft, voodoo and fortune telling, but not engineering.

--Boot Hill

[ChefKeith]

This explains why the trout aren't biting this year at Yellowstone.

'cause they are already cooked!

Just grab Your Mess Kits and head for the water.

[bd476]

"The blowing of Yellowstone may be just the thing to set off the San Andreas and send CA sliding into the depths of the Pacific."

Was this your wish when you threw your lucky penny into the fountain or are you smiling when you say this?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Ah, but public fear (of radiation) has nothing to do with actual real danger of radiation.

Seriously though, I'm NOT worried about the radiation damage (real or imagined) but with the potentially/probable/likely/almost certain (choose your degree of uncertainty!) release of that volcanic energy.

Look, right now, we can't STOP a single slow flow of unpressurized, slow release, low temperature lava outside of HI.

When we're able to control a very small, very slow speed lava flow, THEN let's try a controlled release of pressure on a single MSALL low danger volcano.

THEN let's do that three of four times so we KNOW we can control a LITTLE volcano.

THEN let's consider controlling the pressure release of a medium-size high-pressure small-volume-magma-plume volcano in a non-dangerous area.

THEN (maybe) let's start discussing the potential disaster of a catastrophic "venting" of a mid-US massive volcano.

Come on..... Why attempt to control a mountain (literally!) in the middle of the US breadbasket, affecting a populations of a hundred million and the food supply of 1/3 the earth, when the enviro's won't even let us drill in a single small area in the wilds of Alaska where nobody lives, and no crops are grown, and no animals are found that dark half the year?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Nah.


8<)

We've got to face the reversal of the earth's magnetic field, global warming (especially since it doesn't appear to be resulting from influence!), meteorite impact; Ebola or other new illnesses, the ozone hole, coastal flooding, and a thousand other perils that could wipe us out.

[bd476]

"We've got to face the reversal of the earth's magnetic field, global warming (especially since it doesn't appear to be resulting from influence!), meteorite impact; Ebola or other new illnesses, the ozone hole, coastal flooding, and a thousand other perils that could wipe us out."

... and a partridge in a pear tree.

BTW, thanks for getting my sarcasm. Sometimes it seems there's a bit of State envy/State prejudice and downright State resentment going on around here.

[punster]

Your efforts will vulcanize me to greater efforts. Then, I can rubber everybbody's noses in it.

[Havoc]

Ground temperature or no it is but one part of the equation with valcanoes. It is not the entire equation. That doesn't matter to you - nor does anything else I've said.
You're here to run your mouth as has aptly been displayed in your last few posts. Run your mouth to yourself. I've better things to do.

[Havoc]

Just a little punchy. Kinda get that way when people attack with nothing to say. Should be used to it by now; but, having been under the weather this weekend hasn't helped.

As far as being technically right, I am aware I don't know all the factors - neither, apparently, does anyone else. And that is largely the point I've been making.

[Happy2BMe]

Get it all off your chest. Thaaat's it. . easy, easy.

[null and void]

I'm glad I can help you reach a peak experience...

[null and void]

A work to the wise should sulfice, no peeking...