Yellowstone Supervolcano: Case Study
WHAT IS IT?
The term “supervolcano” stands for an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index, indicating an eruption of more than 1,000 cubic kilometres (250 cubic miles) of magma. Yellowstone has had at least three past eruptions: The three being, 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago and 640,000 years ago, were about 2,500 times larger than the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State.
WHERE IS IT?
The supervolcano and most of the park are located in the northwest corner of Wyoming in the USA. The major features of the supervolcano measure about 34 by 45 miles (55 by 72 km).
HOW DID IT FORM?
The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was approximately 640,000 …show more content…
The magma melts the nearby rock to form more extremely thick magma. The magma is so viscous that volcanic gasses that normally trigger an eruption cannot pass, so a massive amount of pressure begins to build up. This continues for hundreds of thousands of years until an eruption occurs, which blasts away a huge amount of ground, forming a new caldera. The same principle would happen at Yellowstone if it were to erupted, too much pressure and the chamber …show more content…
Lahars (mudflows) would be created if it rained, this in turn would also run along the land and destroy absolutely everything in its path and if ash is deposited all across the world, there could be multiple issues.
Accompanying the eruption would be many powerful earthquakes, these could cause avalanches and debris issues, this can then lead to flooding when drainage systems get blocked.
Since large quantities of tephra and volcanic gases such as sulphur dioxide would be injected into the atmosphere, there would be changes to the climate. This could cause global temperatures to drop as much as 20°C, causing extreme weather events.
Ash falls could lead to extensive crop damaged and ultimately kill livestock. This could lead to famine around the world as America is one of the largest food producers.
Also people have to be evacuated, breakdown of sewerage and water systems and shortages of other normal services can lead to disease for years after the eruption, especially if the infrastructure was to not be put in place to provide rapid relief and recover.
Governments would have many financial issues whether it be lack of trade of having to pay compensation to those whose property is
WHAT IS IT?
The term “supervolcano” stands for an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index, indicating an eruption of more than 1,000 cubic kilometres (250 cubic miles) of magma. Yellowstone has had at least three past eruptions: The three being, 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago and 640,000 years ago, were about 2,500 times larger than the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State.
WHERE IS IT?
The supervolcano and most of the park are located in the northwest corner of Wyoming in the USA. The major features of the supervolcano measure about 34 by 45 miles (55 by 72 km).
HOW DID IT FORM?
The last time the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted was approximately 640,000 …show more content…
The magma melts the nearby rock to form more extremely thick magma. The magma is so viscous that volcanic gasses that normally trigger an eruption cannot pass, so a massive amount of pressure begins to build up. This continues for hundreds of thousands of years until an eruption occurs, which blasts away a huge amount of ground, forming a new caldera. The same principle would happen at Yellowstone if it were to erupted, too much pressure and the chamber …show more content…
Lahars (mudflows) would be created if it rained, this in turn would also run along the land and destroy absolutely everything in its path and if ash is deposited all across the world, there could be multiple issues.
Accompanying the eruption would be many powerful earthquakes, these could cause avalanches and debris issues, this can then lead to flooding when drainage systems get blocked.
Since large quantities of tephra and volcanic gases such as sulphur dioxide would be injected into the atmosphere, there would be changes to the climate. This could cause global temperatures to drop as much as 20°C, causing extreme weather events.
Ash falls could lead to extensive crop damaged and ultimately kill livestock. This could lead to famine around the world as America is one of the largest food producers.
Also people have to be evacuated, breakdown of sewerage and water systems and shortages of other normal services can lead to disease for years after the eruption, especially if the infrastructure was to not be put in place to provide rapid relief and recover.
Governments would have many financial issues whether it be lack of trade of having to pay compensation to those whose property is