WHAT IF YELLOWSTONE EXPLODED?

Yellowstone National Park sits on top of a giant super volcano, which explains its powerful geysers and hot springs. Beneath Yellowstone lies an enormous magma chamber, discovered to be larger than previously thought in 2015. There are now two reservoirs of magma under the park. The magma chambers contain enough magma to fill the Grand Canyon 11 times over. Yellowstone rises about 1 to 2 inches each year due to the pressure from the magma chambers. Yellowstone is classified as an active volcano with a volcanic explosivity index of 8 out of 8, indicating a potentially catastrophic eruption.

However, recent seismic activity in Yellowstone is not cause for alarm. The University of Utah recorded numerous earthquakes, but the most significant was a magnitude 3.7 quake. Experts assure the public that Yellowstone is stable and not likely to erupt soon. Monitoring of underground activity continues to look for warning signs of potential eruptions, such as frequent earthquakes and ground deformation.

Yellowstone has experienced three super eruptions in its history, the most recent forming the Yellowstone caldera. Signs of a pending eruption include increasing heat beneath the crust, uplift of the land over the magma chamber, and geothermal features heating up. If a super eruption were to occur, the most devastating consequence would be ash and ashfall, affecting a large area and potentially disrupting daily life.

The last super eruption at Yellowstone occurred 70,000 years ago, and there is no set timeline for volcanic activity. Scientists continue to study past eruptions to understand potential future events. It is unlikely that a super eruption will happen soon, providing some reassurance amid concerns about Yellowstone's volcanic activity.