Yellowstone Volcano
Did you know that Yellowstone National Park is actually an active supervolcano? As you walk around the park you may think: “I don’t see any volcanos?!” That’s because much of the entire park is a volcano – and the bubbling geysers and hot springs are an indication of the churning activity below the surface.
Yellowstone Supervolcano
The term “supervolcano” implies an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index, indicating an eruption of more than 1,000 cubic kilometers (250 cubic miles) of magma. Yellowstone has had at least three such eruptions: The three eruptions, 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago and 640,000 years ago, were about 6,000, 700 and 2,500 times larger than the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State.
Yellowstone Caldera
Map of the Yellowstone Caldera (purple border) with older calderas (green border)
The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was 640,000+ years ago. The Yellowstone eruption area collapsed upon itself, creating a sunken giant crater or caldera 1,500 square miles in area. The magmatic heat powering that eruption (and two others, dating back 2.1 million years) still powers the park’s famous geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots.
Did You Know Yellowstone Has 3 Enormous Calderas?
At least 1,299 episodes of unrest have occurred at 138 calderas greater than 5 km in diameter during historical time.
Docudrama Movie 'Supervolcano' by BBC and Discovery Channel
BBC Science and Discovery Channel produced the docudrama called “Super-Volcano,” followed by the documentary, “Supervolcano: The Truth About Yellowstone.”
History of Yellowstone’s Supervolcano
The Yellowstone area has seen tremendous volcanic activity in its past. 3 giant eruptions have occurred between 2.1 million and 640,000 years ago.
How the Yellowstone Caldera Formed
The Yellowstone caldera was formed after an explosion of magma nearly 600,000 years ago.
Is Yellowstone Going to Blow? Exaggerated Reports of Volatility
As long as there's been a National Park seated on a super volcano, there's been erroneous reports of impending doom.
Movies Featuring Yellowstone National Park
Documentaries aside, movies about Yellowstone National Park tend to focus on fiery natural disasters.
Scientists Find 4X Magma Under Yellowstone's Supervolcano
Yellowstone’s plumbing system is no larger - nor closer to erupting - than before but now we have advanced techniques to map the system. See animation of magma chamber.
Scientists study Yellowstone geothermic hotspot
Using thermal satellite images, scientists take the earth’s temperature hundreds of miles away from a destination to hopefully predict volcano eruptions.
Supervolcano Eruptions
The odds that the Yellowstone supervolcano will erupt are roughly the same as the chances you'll be struck by lightning: 1 in 10,000
Testing the Volcano Mantle Plume Theory with Corn Syrup
One scientist tests the theory of mantle plumes by using 200 gallons of corn syrup to represent the Earth's mantle.
Who is Watching Yellowstone's Volcano and Nearby Earthquakes?
Seismic activity is monitored around the clock by staff of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory with help from the University of Utah. No eruption soon.
Yellowstone is Leaking Helium
Yellowstone is releasing a about 60 tons of helium from underground stores each year, an amount hundreds, possibly thousands, of times more than expected.
Yellowstone Volcano Caldera Rises, Falls and Rises Again
Deep beneath Yellowstone, forces of heat and pressure cause the surface to rise and fall much like the breathing of a gigantic, slumbering beast.
