Is Yellowstone's Super Volcano Coming Alive?
84New "Swarm of Earthquakes" in Yellowstone
For those that follow and study earthquakes and volcanoes - this has surely got to be the question of the day: Is the super volcano at Yellowstone Park becoming active? Is the old man about to get out of his chair and give us a worldwide show?
From Associated Press:
"CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Scientists are closely monitoring more than 250 small earthquakes that have occurred in Yellowstone National Park since Friday. Swarms of small earthquakes happen frequently in Yellowstone. But Robert Smith, a professor of geophysics at the University of Utah, says it's very unusual to have so many over several days.
The largest tremor was Saturday and measured magnitude 3.8.
Smith says it's hard to say what might be causing the tremors but notes that Yellowstone is very geologically active. An active volcano there last erupted 70,000 years ago."
The interest in super volcanoes and earthquakes has been spiked (pardon the pun) by this unusual swarm of earthquakes in Yellowstone over the last few days. Although earthquakes in the park are NOT unusual and there have been swarms before, this particular swarm has the scientists concerned enough to be keeping a close eye on it.
The location of the earthquakes is right where a huge "bulge" was found under Yellowstone lake a few years back that caused much speculation. The " bulge" under the lake is estimated to be 100 ft. tall at some points, and the reason for the massive bulge is yet unclear. Is it building in anticipation of pressure below? Has it been there alot longer then we realize? There are many unanswered questions that have scientists scrambling to find out answers.
Earthquake Activity at Yellowstone on 12-29-2008
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"Super Volcano" : Not Your Ordinary Volcano
The reason the Yellowstone National Park "super volcano" attracts so much attention is because it's no ordinary volcano. This is a volcano which upon eruption could become a "cataclysmic" - and perhaps - extinction level event. The last time the volcano erupted was about 640,000 years ago, and according to scientists it blows about every 600,000 to 650,000 years. So there are some people that believe we are overdue for an eruption from Yellowstone - and that perhaps this event will be something we may witness in our lifetime.
Being an avid researcher of natural disasters and climate change, I stumbled upon Yellowstone's supervolcano many years ago. I am now quite intrigued by the fact that one of the leading researchers at the lake, Robert Smith, even issued a press release from the Yellowstone Observatory stating that this "swarm" of earthquakes in Yellowstone is quite unusual. Well, in the fairness of science, there are many many things that are quite unusual that occur on earth that we don't quite understand. And it's not like we can look back 600,000 years and talk to people about the signs and symptoms of a super volcano about to explode. All we can really rely on is what scientific evidence we have gathered in our brief time here on earth, and hope that with that research we can make better decisions and observations.
As for Yellowstone's Super Volcano? Well........ what can we really do other than follow the news, track observations and come to our own conclusions on any actions - if any - that we should be taking to protect ourselves and our families? Chances are if this son of a gun blows it could be so fast that we wouldn't even have a chance to blink an eye anyway - or even make preparations. Nature doesn't follow any rules and it's not like we can demand the Yellowstone Super Volcano to just calm down. The only ones we can tell to calm down is ourselves.
And I'm sure the mainstream media would not announce "hey there is about to be a cataclysmic event that might possibly happen but we're not sure because we don't have anough evidence of other cataclysmic events to draw from - so just be alert that something might happen".... Let's just hope that TPTB at least give us some type of heads up so we can run to our bunkers....or at least into our basements. I'd rather be in a basement thousands of miles away then close to the park observing Old Faithful.
(There is a very good list of comprehensive links for monitoring earthquakes at Yellowstone below this article - this would be a good article to bookmark and save for future reference - let's hope we don't need to but wisdom is power)
Your Thoughts on the Yellowstone Super Volcano
Do You Think the Yellowstone Super Volcano Will Erupt During Our Lifetime?
See results without votingWhat Would a Super Volcano Eruption Look Like?
Could the Yellowstone Super Volcano Erupt Again?
USGS Map of Occuring Yellowstone Earthquakes
- Map Centered at 45°N, 110°W
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, responsible for monitoring, reporting, and researching earthquakes and earthquake hazards
University Of Utah Seismograph Stations Monitoring Yellowstone Earthquakes
- The University of Utah
Link to location of seismic sensors located in Yellowstone - http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/yml_webi.htm
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a notable swarm of earthquakes has been underway since December 26 beneath Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, three to six miles south-southeast of Fishing Bridge, Wyoming. This ene
Link to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
- Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) was created as a partnership among the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Yellowstone National Park, and University of Utah to strengthen the long-term monitoring of volcanic and earthquake unrest in the Yellowst
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Thle Latest News and Updates on Yellowstone Super Volcano Activity
- Earthquakes continue to rumble underneath Yellowstone9 News Denver6 days ago
GOLDEN - For three weeks, 9NEWS has been telling you about earthquakes under Yellowstone National Park.
- Yellowstone rumbles with swarm of earthquakesKSL Salt Lake City6 days ago
A swarm of nearly 1,800 earthquakes has shaken an area of Yellowstone National Park during the last two weeks. The swarm is the largest in the last 25 years, but a geophysicist says it is more cause for study and fascination than alarm.
- More Earthquakes Reported in Yellowstone ParkKIFI Idaho Falls6 days ago
Increased seismic activity was reported Tuesday afternoon as a swarm of earthquakes continue to rattle Yellowstone National Park.
Some Background on Yellowstone Park
- http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/62089/yellowstone_national_park_at_high_threat.html?cat=58
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most amazing and explosive parks in the world. Established in 1872, located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, Yellowstone National Park is America’s first nation al park. Underneath the nature and wildlife of thi
Link for all Yellowstone Volcano and Earthquake Activity
- Steve Quayle News Alerts: Yellowstone and More
Steve Quayle investigates nephilim, anakim, fallen angels, giants of ancient mythology and the bible. Q-Files live talk radio host sells platinum, silver,gold coins,UV electrostatic air filter.
Comprehensive Site on the Yellowstone Super Volcano
- Yellowstone Supervolcano Supervolcano Yellowstone Park
Each year, millions of visitors come to admire the hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone, the Nations first national park. Few are aware that these wonders are fueled by heat from a large reservoir of partially molten rock (magma), just a few miles
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Comments
I watched a TV program about the super volcano...does not look good if it goes off! Lets hope it stays asleep a while longer
Great hub! I saw this in the news yesterday and was inspired to write a hub about Ashfall Fossil Beds here in Nebraska, which was formed when the supervolcano blew about 10 million years ago. Back then it was located in Southwestern Idaho, yet it still killed animals 1000 miles away on the Plains. We better hope it doesn't blow again in our lifetimes!
I better visit Yellowstone before it gets covered in lava and black dust. Sounds like it is due to erupt. I know that many animals can sense things like this in advance. So if they start leaving I hope people will follow their advice. Mother nature sure can be scary.
I only hope somebody (government) develops long-range plans to deal with the eruption should it ever happen. We're not very good at planning ahead in this country (Just think "Katrina.") Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Dorsi.
Dorsi, this is a great hub, full of pictures and video and lots of information! The topic of the yellowstone supervolcano has been a hot topic lately, but I never read up on it until now.
Thanks for putting this hub up!
The quakes are continiuing today and it’s not just that there are so many quakes, all but a few quakes are within a mile or two of each other and at every depth between 7.2 km and the surface suggesting pressurized movement along the same chimney right down to the magma chamber at ~ 8 km. The recorded movements may be from heated water or magma but even if only a single magma vent is established, it could depressurize the magma chamber to the point of explosive release of gases from the magma to create the super volcano effect across the whole 70 km caldera. Beyond the global volcanic winter devastating agriculture and the deaths/disease inflicted on all breathing animals from ash inhalation, I am concerned that water pumps cooling nuclear reactors will not survive for long with significant ash contamination in feed water and there should be a plan to dissipate latent heat in reactor cores and spent fuel storage pools given that the heat from radioactive decay will have to be actively dissipated for months after reactor shut down. The only apparent method of preventing the eventual melting and release of the nuclear fuel is to create enough reserve clean water storage to allow long term/continuous containment vessel blow down, (temperature-lowering depressurization of the reactor core by releasing radioactive steam into the containment structure and then into the air), and replacement of evaporated water from spent fuel storage. Although nuclear plants are required to have this reserve water storage, it is already being used to cool spent fuel rods not originally intended for onsite storage and is therefore not available for blow down replacement as that would allow spent fuel to melt. New covered reserve water pools capable of sustaining heavy wet ash loads must therefore be built across the U.S. to accommodate this ash scenario and these reserve pools would have to be considerably larger for longer term blow down and spent fuel cooling. If the nukes are not secured, just add 600 years for the major fission fragments to decay over 20 half lives, (450,000 years for Plutonium to decay to acceptible levels), to the multiple decades of devastation caused by the ash cloud. Katrina would be seen as a comparative lunchtime picnic in a light breeze.
God, that's so scary! I watch such programs in Nat Geo channel sometimes. They make it look as if this planet is going to explode anytime. It's just like sitting on a heap of gunpowder and not even knowing that.
I would have voted "not sure but the thought doesn't scare me", but there wasn't the option! It would indeed be cataclysmic, but no-one ever suggested clinging to the surface of lump of rock was a safe pursuit - life is dangerous, in fact it's fatal, and Yellowstone is just another of the 'little challenges' put in our way. I don't think it's something we can really prepare for, because if this one goes off, it's way out of our league for control. Personally, I think crossing fingers is the best defence!
I will start to worry about Yellowstone erupting when we see harmonic tremor. Until then, remember that there are literally thousands of earthquakes at Yellowstone every year; it is quite siesmically active. Most cannot be felt by humans as they are too small.
Dorsi, good subject matter. Scary, isn't it? I wrote a piece about the Yellowstone Super Volcano about eight months ago, and recently - ever since all the activity - it has been getting a LOT of views.
People are clearly worried...
Wow, Dorsi. This is really scarey. I seldom watch the videos, but I did this one. I found an additional element of fear when the firefighter was talking about every man for himself in the event of an eruption. I couldn't help but think of those poor people stuck in the dome in New Orleans. Why is it that survivors feel the need to act that way? It only makes the catastrophe worse.
The idea of the planet being plunged into perma-winter doesn't excite me, either.
I'm curious as to whether or not people are moving out of Rapid City as a precaution. Actually, I guess they'd have to move a few states away, wouldn't they?
Great hub, Dorsi!
Thanks for writing this hub. I love this kinda stuff.
Thanks for opening many eyes to this potential disaster. Those who read the Word regularly will not be surprised, or fearful of such events. They WILL occur. Preparation is the key. Thanks again!
Fascinating subject, the consequences of this thing blowing are huge, I mean it could literally wipe all life off the planet if the predictions on the size of the volcano are correct.
I had not really known about this til I was going over some earth science with my son. The whole Yellowstone area is a fascinating one, so much going on from a geology standpoint.
Neat hub :) Also saw tv shows on this. Pretty bad if it happens, wow :(
A lot of good info. thanks
You are welcome everyone who stopped by to visit. As of today there an estimated 900 plus earthquakes that have occurred in the last several weeks at Yellowstone.
They have not stopped, they are being monitored but what it all means is anyones guess. Hopefully they are not a signal of an impending super volcano eruption.
We can only cross our fingers, and hope this is just an unusual swarm of earthquakes. Nature can't be figured out sometimes, can it?
I'm with paraglider - no point worrying about it.
nation wide is on your side ,,cambelles chicen noodle soup pssibillities
man dorsi, i love you.
I think that a plan of action similar to the one that many countries are starting to take to reduce greenhouse gases is needed. Plans are also starting on discovering ways to prevent meteor strikes many years in advance. Might it not be possible to somehow cool off the upper magma chamber of a super volcano? I know the difficulties, and expense will be enormous, but we should start developing a plan now. Some of the expense if not all could come from putting electrical power plants in place to utilize the geothermal energy that is accessable.
IT is hard for me to find the information about the Supervolcano and I just need to knoww is when will the supervolcano have its eruptions and how long will it be before we know that it has erupt,also please tell me so that I can tell my family that they need to stay inside while the ash is falling from the cloud that is covering our sun.
Loved reading this; it's fun to see all the different opinions! I did a project on this pretty recently. I don't think Yellowstone is blowing any time soon. To be honest with you, that bulge in the lake could have been there for hundreds of years for all we know. We really haven't been studying the park for that long compared to how long it's been around, so it's hard to guess at anything. And i wouldn't worry about the earthquakes too much; they're pretty common at Yellowstone. So are earthquake swarms, which is what the park had in December 2008. It was around 500 quakes, but that's fairly normal. I don't think there's any reason to worry; just sit back and enjoy what Yellowstone has to offer! It's a fun visit. (This is just my opinion, i'm no expert on the topic)
I think that they are doing the right thing by not getting people worrying and scared so I hope it dose sleep a little longer so they can keep an eye on it just to make sure that it will show more signs but for now lets not get your hopes up yet because we do not know when will it have an eruptions and how long before we see the sun again.
Well Yellowstone has been acting up again recently....don't forget to bookmark this page as it has lots of relevant links for quick checking Yellowstone volcano activity, Yellowstone earthquakes and general information on any Yellowstone alerts.
And all we can do is monitor and watch, right?
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jenster says:
14 months ago
Wow that is super crazy...I know we have lots of little ones that happen here, but I couldn't imagin if that one blew...I think it would be kinda scary and wonder how that would effect us. Good hub and good thing to be thinking about.
Thanks for sharing,
Jennifer