Deadly Yellowstone supervolcano could kill thousands and cause 'nuclear winter'

The more melted the magma, the more likely it is to erupt

Scientists used to think there was only 5-15% liquid magma

35 to 50% magma would trigger an eruption

What would happen if there was an eruption?

One of the largest volcanoes in the world

Yellowstone Caldera originated thousands of years ago

Beautiful but deadly

In the United States, a breathtaking natural wonder exists that poses a potential threat to thousands of lives. Annually, numerous visitors are drawn to this magnificent location, often unaware of the lurking dangers it presents.

A lot more liquid molten rock

One of the magma reservoirs underneath the Yellowstone Caldera, a huge crater and supervolcano, holds a lot more liquid molten rock than scientists previously estimated, suggests research published in Science.

Magma: an indicator of eruption

The amount of melted rock beneath a volcano helps researchers determine how close it might be to erupting.

Photo: Marc Szeglat/Unsplash

The more melted the magma, the more likely it is to erupt

Magma consists of rocks and crystals at varying stages of solidity; the more melted, or liquid, the magma is, the more likely a volcano is to erupt.

Photo: Marc Szeglat/Unsplash

Large reservoirs full of magma

Two large reservoirs full of magma exist beneath the Yellowstone Caldera: one that’s about three to ten miles beneath the surface, and another that’s 12 to 30 miles below ground.

Scientists used to think there was only 5-15% liquid magma

Based on previous research, scientists thought the shallower reservoir was mostly solid, with just 5 to 15% melted rock.

Photo: Toby Elliott/Unsplash

Supercomputers reanalyzed seismic data

But after using powerful supercomputers to re-analyze existing seismic data from the past 20 years, they believe that proportion is actually 16 to 20%.

35 to 50% magma would trigger an eruption

That’s still well below the threshold of liquid magma that scientists believe would trigger an eruption (about 35 to 50%).

What would happen if there was an eruption?

Scientists said that an eruption from Yellowstone’s supervolcano could blanket the United States in a “nuclear winter,” as it could release a ten-foot-tall layer of molten ash 1,000 miles from the park.

Kill 90,000

Furthermore, the eruption could kill around 90,000 people almost instantly.

Unlikely to erupt in the near future

Luckily, according to the findings, scientists concluded that Yellowstone’s supervolcano is unlikely to erupt anytime in the near future.

Photo: Simon Hurry/Unsplash

More accurate scientific understanding

So while the new findings don’t change the volcano’s risk level, scientists say they now have a more accurate understanding of what was already there.

Like an old camera with a new lens

“It’s a bit like getting a new lens on an old camera,” said Michael Poland, a research geophysicist to the New York Times. “It’s the same camera, but you’ve got finer resolution now. You see with more clarity.”

One of the largest volcanoes in the world

The Yellowstone supervolcano, located in northwestern Wyoming in Yellowstone National Park, is one of the largest volcanoes in the world.

Photo: Mariona Grobelska/Unsplash

Has erupted multiple times

It’s erupted multiple times over the past 2.1 million years, including three massive eruptions that smothered the surrounding landscape in ash.

Yellowstone Caldera originated thousands of years ago

The Yellowstone Caldera, which spans 30 by 45 miles wide, formed during one of those eruptions roughly 631,000 years ago.

Photo: Katy McCray/Unsplash

The area is under constant observation

The area is under constant observation by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, which should mean that further warning signs are picked up well in advance.

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