Yellowstone supervolcano due to cause 'mass destruction' when it next erupts
Story by Anugraha Sundaravelu •
The reservoir was approximately twice as large as previously thought, at approximately 1,600 cubic kilometres (Picture: Shutterstock / Lorcel)© Provided by Metro
Scientists have found that the Yellowstone supervolcano is due to cause ‘mass destruction’ when it next erupts.
The Yellowstone Caldera also known as the Yellowstone supervolcano, is a volcanic caldera and active supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
A team of researchers has found evidence that there is way more magma below the Yellowstone Caldera than previously thought.
Prior research has shown the volcano’s last major eruption was approximately 640,000 years ago.
It was also thought that there were two large magma reservoirs below the caldera—one just below the surface, the other a few kilometres down.
Related video: Yellowstone Supervolcano Holds Up To Twice As Much Magma As We Thought (The Weather Channel)
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Scientists have found that the Yellowstone supervolcano is due to cause ‘mass destruction’ when it next erupts
(Picture: Barcroft Media)© Provided by Metro
The ratio of melted rock to crystals in the top reservoir is a reliable indicator of how close a volcano is to erupting. Previous estimates showed the ratio of rock to crystal in the top reservoir was approximately 9%, suggesting the volcano was nowhere near erupting.
However, a closer look at the ratio of rock to crystal in this new study suggests that it is much higher than earlier estimates showed, about 16% to 20%.
Analysing 20 years of seismic data for the area with a supercomputer, scientists created a model that simulated the reservoir, showing both the size of the reservoir and its ratios of rock to crystal.
They also found that the reservoir was approximately twice as large as previously thought, at approximately 1,600 cubic kilometres.
While the findings don’t indicate that the volcano will erupt any time soon, the ratio is still well below the threshold believed to be necessary to set off an explosion.
In 2018, a huge crack in the Yellowstone supervolcano sparked concern that it could erupt soon.
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The ratio of melted rock to crystals in the top reservoir is a reliable indicator of how close a volcano is to erupting. Previous estimates showed the ratio of rock to crystal in the top reservoir was approximately 9%, suggesting the volcano was nowhere near erupting.
However, a closer look at the ratio of rock to crystal in this new study suggests that it is much higher than earlier estimates showed, about 16% to 20%.
Analysing 20 years of seismic data for the area with a supercomputer, scientists created a model that simulated the reservoir, showing both the size of the reservoir and its ratios of rock to crystal.
They also found that the reservoir was approximately twice as large as previously thought, at approximately 1,600 cubic kilometres.
While the findings don’t indicate that the volcano will erupt any time soon, the ratio is still well below the threshold believed to be necessary to set off an explosion.
In 2018, a huge crack in the Yellowstone supervolcano sparked concern that it could erupt soon.
Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more by signing up to Metro's News Updates newsletter
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