Just In: Yellowstone's Ancient Supervolcano 'Lukewarm'

Science Daily ^ | August 28th, 2008

[Raineygoodyear]

The geysers of Yellowstone National Park owe their existence to the "Yellowstone hotspot"--a region of molten rock buried deep beneath Yellowstone, geologists have found... But how hot is this "hotspot," and what's causing it?

In an effort to find out, Derek Schutt of Colorado State University and Ken Dueker of the University of Wyoming took the hotspot's temperature They found that the hotspot is "only" 50 to 200 degrees Celsius hotter than its surroundings.

"Although Yellowstone sits above a plume of hot material coming up from deep with the Earth, it's a remarkably 'lukewarm' plume," said Schutt, comparing Yellowstone to other plumes.

[mainerforglobalwarming]

I say that this is clear proof that the earth itself is cooling, and man is needed to cause global warming. To insure that we don't all freeze to death this winter. Grab the aerosol cans, light up the grill, we've got a planet to save.

[skr]

Not much one can do about a super-volcano, other than be on another continent.

[DManA]

Good news for humans, bad news for Science Channel doomsday producers.

[brytlea]

You how they always say “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”? Well, maybe it’s always lukewarmest before the eruption!
I hope I have my super volcano insurance paid up...
susie

[machogirl]

connected to al gore’s mouth

[colorado tanker]

I'd like to think Yellowstone has become disconnected from its magma chamber, since the last map I looked at predicted I'd have a 50-50 chance if the caldera blew. :-))

[rosenfan]

I hope I have my super volcano insurance paid up...

Unless you're on the other side of the planet when it goes off, you may not be around to collect it!

[brytlea]

Do you suppose that’s why it was so cheap? ;)
susie

[Centurion2000]

I hope I have my super volcano insurance paid up...

Unless you're on the other side of the planet when it goes off, you may not be around to collect it!

Actually only about 5000 or so people will get to collect as they will be literally the only survivors if another supervolcano goes off.

Tomu went of 75,000 years ago (approx). Worldwide human population after that was around 5000.

[brytlea]

Well, then, I suppose I can have a lot bigger yard then! Of course, the internet will probably be kaput....
susie

[Judith Anne]

Back when they were worried about it, in the “We’re all gonna die” scenario, I didn’t worry too much.

Now that they say it’s only lukewarm, I’m starting to be concerned.

Can you tell I don’t trust mainstream pop science very much?

[meatloaf]

Better make that another planet. The last time a super volcano blew, mankind came close to extinction. Supposedly only thousands survived. The long term winter that would set in would stop agriculture production far longer than food stockpiles.

It’s one of the kiss your you know what good by scenarios.

[brytlea]

LOL yes, and I’m with you.
;)
susie

[rosenfan]

Actually only about 5000 or so people will get to collect as they will be literally the only survivors if another supervolcano goes off.

Tomu went of 75,000 years ago (approx). Worldwide human population after that was around 5000.

Well, there were probably about 100,000 (give or take) humans before Toba went off...so it only wiped out about 95% of humanity. Given the same reduction in today's population, there'd still be 300 million people.

Still not very good odds.

[MHGinTN]

At the time of Tuma people were not as dependent upon having food, etc. brought to them to suvive, they fed themselves. The actual survival number today would be more like 1% or less due to the competition for available leftover provisions and lack of skill in foraging in the wild. If 50,000 survive I would be surprised, and most of that number would be in the most primitive areas. Major cities would devolve to wastelands.

[MHGinTN]

Make that Tuma ...

[bert]

.....Worldwide human population after that was around 5000.....

This number was determined by a computer model as was the global warming determination. There is absolutely no way to support the number of 5,000 other than a wild ass guess.

[rosenfan]

Fair point. There's a novel by S. M. Stirling called "Dies the Fire" in which electricity, gunpowder, and most forms of high energy-density technology (steam, nuclear) stop working. Instantly.

One year later, over 99% of humanity has died. In the United States, it's more like 99.9%.

(the electricity bit is selective...lightning still occurs, and the neurons in our nervous systems still work)

[Illuminatas]

Here in Wyoming we have Bentonite (kitty-litter) deposits up to 300ft thick, thanks to the last time Yellowstone had a hiccup.

Nice to have a volcano next door that is so large they could never find the caldera (sp?). Why? They were looking for something maybe 1 mile in diameter, no 20-30 miles in diameter.

If it ever did blow? Good-bye!