Super Volcano in Yellowstone can destroy America

How do scientists know that it's erupted 3 times over the past 2.1 million years? Anyone able to clarify this for me? I don't doubt that it has, but how exactly do they know this fact?

Why does everybody always pick 2012 as the date when bad things are supposed to happen?

Why does everybody always pick 2012 as the date when bad things are supposed to happen?

How do scientists know that it's erupted 3 times over the past 2.1 million years? Anyone able to clarify this for me? I don't doubt that it has, but how exactly do they know this fact?

zmbi_gmr

So could an asteroid strike.

[QUOTE="XileLord"]

Why does everybody always pick 2012 as the date when bad things are supposed to happen?

-Big_Red-

This is the new(?) news: Yellowstone Has Bulged as Magma Pocket Swells

But yea, it could blow anytime...

brandojones

"Scientists think a swelling magma reservoir four to six miles (seven to ten kilometers) below the surface is driving the uplift. Fortunately, the surge doesn't seem to herald an imminent catastrophe, Smith said." (emph. added)

That doesn't exactly sound like "it could blow anytime".

[QUOTE="l4dak47"][QUOTE="Atmanix"]

In what way would it be cool?

spawnassasin

because i wanna live to the rip old age of 100 maybe 90 but burning to death or suffocating due to toxic fumes does not sound like a good way to die

Well, that's pretty....

[QUOTE="zmbi_gmr"]

How do scientists know that it's erupted 3 times over the past 2.1 million years? Anyone able to clarify this for me? I don't doubt that it has, but how exactly do they know this fact?

BumFluff122

Must be a very percise analysis to determine the number of eruptions over such a long period of time. Blows my mind honestly.

[QUOTE="-Big_Red-"][QUOTE="XileLord"]

Why does everybody always pick 2012 as the date when bad things are supposed to happen?

XileLord

It would be a global disaster since the ashes will block out the sun for a hell of a lot of years

If it happens approximately every 600 million years, then it's not really going to happen anytime soon most likely. Even if it was 40 million years behind schedule, that's still be like only 8% behind schedule.

And I guess this pat of the article was completely ignored.

"But once we saw [the magma] was at a depth of ten kilometers, we weren't so concerned. If it had been at depths of two or three kilometers [one or two miles], we'd have been a lot more concerned."

"Fortunately, the surge doesn't seem to herald an imminent catastrophe."

[QUOTE="BumFluff122"]

[QUOTE="zmbi_gmr"]

How do scientists know that it's erupted 3 times over the past 2.1 million years? Anyone able to clarify this for me? I don't doubt that it has, but how exactly do they know this fact?

zmbi_gmr

Must be a very percise analysis to determine the number of eruptions over such a long period of time. Blows my mind honestly.

This is an example of rock stratification

If it happens approximately every 600 million years, then it's not really going to happen anytime soon most likely. Even if it was 40 million years behind schedule, that's still be like only 8% behind schedule.

And I guess this pat of the article was completely ignored.

"But once we saw [the magma] was at a depth of ten kilometers, we weren't so concerned. If it had been at depths of two or three kilometers [one or two miles], we'd have been a lot more concerned."

"Fortunately, the surge doesn't seem to herald an imminent catastrophe."

StealthMonkey4

Why would someone let facts stand in the way of fear!? :o

It would be a global disaster since the ashes will block out the sun for a hell of a lot of years

DanteSuikoden

[QUOTE="DanteSuikoden"]

It would be a global disaster since the ashes will block out the sun for a hell of a lot of years

BumFluff122

BumFluff! \o/

[QUOTE="BumFluff122"]

[QUOTE="DanteSuikoden"]

It would be a global disaster since the ashes will block out the sun for a hell of a lot of years

Atmanix

BumFluff! \o/

[QUOTE="brandojones"]

This is the new(?) news: Yellowstone Has Bulged as Magma Pocket Swells

But yea, it could blow anytime...

GabuEx

"Scientists think a swelling magma reservoir four to six miles (seven to ten kilometers) below the surface is driving the uplift. Fortunately, the surge doesn't seem to herald an imminent catastrophe, Smith said." (emph. added)

That doesn't exactly sound like "it could blow anytime".

I mean "anytime" as in a couple of years or a couple of hundred years. Also, just because it doesn't 'seem' like it would happen soon doesn't mean it won't.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="brandojones"]

This is the new(?) news: Yellowstone Has Bulged as Magma Pocket Swells

But yea, it could blow anytime...

brandojones

"Scientists think a swelling magma reservoir four to six miles (seven to ten kilometers) below the surface is driving the uplift. Fortunately, the surge doesn't seem to herald an imminent catastrophe, Smith said." (emph. added)

That doesn't exactly sound like "it could blow anytime".

I mean "anytime" as in a couple of years or a couple of hundred years. Also, just because it doesn't 'seem' like it would happen soon doesn't mean it won't.

This a huge amount of years we're talking about here, 600 million, just because it's 40 million overdue doesn't mean it's likely to erupt anytime soon, it's very unlikely it'll erupt anytime even within the next few million, it doesn't appear close to erupting and it's already 40 million years behind schedule, I doubt another few thousand will change anything. I mean, sure, it could happen, but so could a random asteroid strike us and kill every single person on Earth, or a nuclear holocaust, but both of these events are extremely unlikely, and a super volcano eruption is even less likely.

It seems to me that this volcano is a potential terrorist.

There was a recent story about a far away star (almost the size of our sun) that is going to implode soon.BrianB0422

[QUOTE="brandojones"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

"Scientists think a swelling magma reservoir four to six miles (seven to ten kilometers) below the surface is driving the uplift. Fortunately, the surge doesn't seem to herald an imminent catastrophe, Smith said." (emph. added)

That doesn't exactly sound like "it could blow anytime".

StealthMonkey4

I mean "anytime" as in a couple of years or a couple of hundred years. Also, just because it doesn't 'seem' like it would happen soon doesn't mean it won't.

This a huge amount of years we're talking about here, 600 million, just because it's 40 million overdue doesn't mean it's likely to erupt anytime soon, it's very unlikely it'll erupt anytime even within the next few million, it doesn't appear close to erupting and it's already 40 million years behind schedule, I doubt another few thousand will change anything. I mean, sure, it could happen, but so could a random asteroid strike us and kill every single person on Earth, or a nuclear holocaust, but both of these events are extremely unlikely, and a super volcano eruption is even less likely.

It last erupted 640,000 years ago. Maybe you misread something...

[QUOTE="HaloReachGOTY"]

[QUOTE="cjek"]Yellowstone could erupt tomorrow, or it could erupt in millions of years. Nobody knows, but the danger has always been there and always will be. And besides, it's likely that North America wouldn't be the only place affected; it would be a global disaster.worlock77

No, a volcanic eruption of that size would effect the entire planet.

[QUOTE="StealthMonkey4"]

[QUOTE="brandojones"]

I mean "anytime" as in a couple of years or a couple of hundred years. Also, just because it doesn't 'seem' like it would happen soon doesn't mean it won't.

brandojones

This a huge amount of years we're talking about here, 600 million, just because it's 40 million overdue doesn't mean it's likely to erupt anytime soon, it's very unlikely it'll erupt anytime even within the next few million, it doesn't appear close to erupting and it's already 40 million years behind schedule, I doubt another few thousand will change anything. I mean, sure, it could happen, but so could a random asteroid strike us and kill every single person on Earth, or a nuclear holocaust, but both of these events are extremely unlikely, and a super volcano eruption is even less likely.

It last erupted 640,000 years ago. Maybe you misread something...

I guess I got the article confused with what TC said (he said it erupts every 600 million years), either way, what I said is still true, I really doubt it poses any threat at all, at least during any of our lifetimes.

Happens every 600 million years. super volcano

good luck america lol

im going to guess it will happen 2012. thoughts?

HaloReachGOTY

[QUOTE="BrianB0422"]There was a recent story about a far away star (almost the size of our sun) that is going to implode soon.xsynth

[QUOTE="SeraphimGoddess"]This isn't a breaking development by a long shot. Thoughts: If it blows, bummer. If it doesn't, cool.HaloReachGOTY

The Yellowstone caldera is a very well-known supervolcano. You are correct in saying that it is overdue for a major eruption, based on the geological record. Yes, it would be a major global disaster.

Great, now there's a volcanic eruption machine to worry about in addition to HAARP.

Yet again, OT reminds us to PANIC.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="HaloReachGOTY"]not million. thouasand. so theres a good chance for it to happen in our life time. and no it will just affect half of america and some parts of canada. mostly due to the toxic air

taylor888

No, a volcanic eruption of that size would effect the entire planet.

Yes... Fixed the oil spill...

[QUOTE="taylor888"][QUOTE="worlock77"]

No, a volcanic eruption of that size would effect the entire planet.

mattbbpl

Yes... Fixed the oil spill...

I had the same reaction. The oil spill wasn't fixed. It was hidden beneath the surface.