Supervolcano in Yellowstone Is 2.5 Times Larger Than Previous Estimates
- 10 years ago
Yellowstone National Park, located in the United States, is home to a super volcano where seismic activity creates geysers and hot springs. A new study from researchers at the University of Utah indicates that the magma chamber of the super volcano is two and a half times bigger than previous estimates suggested.
Yellowstone National Park, located in the United States, is home to a super volcano where seismic activity creates geysers and hot springs.
A new study from researchers at the University of Utah indicates that the magma chamber of the super volcano is two and a half times bigger than previous estimates suggested.
Researchers measured the magma chamber using seismometers, which sent back data showing the size to be 1 to 9 miles deep, around 55 miles long and 20 miles wide.
Professor Bob Smith, from the University of Utah is quoted as saying: “Yes, it is a much larger system…but I don’t think it makes the Yellowstone hazard greater. But what it does tell us is more about the area to the north east of the caldera.”
The last time Yellowstone erupted was around 640 thousand years ago, causing devastating effects across the continental United States like ash and smoke in the atmosphere, along with climate change.
Some experts say that Yellowstone might be due for to explode in the near future, with some estimates clocking in an eruption every 700 thousand years.
This is based on evidence of three eruptions occurring respectively just over 2 million years ago, 1 point 3 million years ago, and the last one 640 thousand years ago.
Yellowstone National Park, located in the United States, is home to a super volcano where seismic activity creates geysers and hot springs.
A new study from researchers at the University of Utah indicates that the magma chamber of the super volcano is two and a half times bigger than previous estimates suggested.
Researchers measured the magma chamber using seismometers, which sent back data showing the size to be 1 to 9 miles deep, around 55 miles long and 20 miles wide.
Professor Bob Smith, from the University of Utah is quoted as saying: “Yes, it is a much larger system…but I don’t think it makes the Yellowstone hazard greater. But what it does tell us is more about the area to the north east of the caldera.”
The last time Yellowstone erupted was around 640 thousand years ago, causing devastating effects across the continental United States like ash and smoke in the atmosphere, along with climate change.
Some experts say that Yellowstone might be due for to explode in the near future, with some estimates clocking in an eruption every 700 thousand years.
This is based on evidence of three eruptions occurring respectively just over 2 million years ago, 1 point 3 million years ago, and the last one 640 thousand years ago.