Yellowstone either *not* about to go up in pure light…

…or it is, and they’re not telling us simply because, crud, the only thing that you could do about it would be to move to another continent:

“Yellowstone is one of the biggest supervolcanos in the world,” [Ilya Bindeman, associate professor of geological sciences at the University of Oregon] says. “Sometimes it erupts quietly with lava flow, but once or twice every million years, it erupts very violently, forming large calderas,” which are very large craters measuring tens of kilometers in diameter.

If it happens again, and he says most scientists think that it will, he predicts such an eruption will obliterate the surroundings within a radius of hundreds of kilometers, and cover the rest of the United States and Canada with multiple inches of ash. This, effectively, would shut down agriculture and cause global climate cooling for as long as a decade, or more, he says. A volcanic event of such magnitude “hasn’t happened in modern civilization,” he says.

However, the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded scientist doesn’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon–at least not for another 1 million to 2 million years.

I actually figure that it’s the former, but even if it was the latter I have to agree: it’s not like we can move Denver somewhere else.  Seriously, I can’t think of a damned thing to do about Yellowstone except enjoy the recent boom of disaster novels that highlight it.  At least I’m putting money in circulation by by buying the books, right?

Via

16 thoughts on “Yellowstone either *not* about to go up in pure light…”

  2. If it happens again, and he says most scientists think that it will, he predicts such an eruption will obliterate the surroundings within a radius of hundreds of kilometers, and cover the rest of the United States and Canada with multiple inches of ash. This, effectively, would shut down agriculture and cause global climate cooling for as long as a decade, or more, he says. A volcanic event of such magnitude “hasn’t happened in modern civilization,” he says.

    *sips coffee*

  3. Oy. The prof knew what he was talking about, but the reporter clearly didn’t. (Among other things, basalt has a low melting point.)
    .
    The estimate of another million years is on the extremely optimistic side of the scale. It’s about as likely as the OMG, we’re all going to die tomorrow! scenario.
    Short version: The hot spot/mantle plume is kind of a unique thing, and it’s currently under the continental divide, so any speculation is a bit iffy. Major eruptions normally have a periodicity of somewhere between 640,000 and 680,000 years. So we’re in the ballpark. But like he noted, the Yellowstone caldera itself is dying. (Which isn’t to say that it won’t have a major eruption again. But it won’t be *quite* as horrible as a full-force one.) And the next caldera complex will be a bit tricky to detect before it actually goes boom with megatons of force…

  4. If people are going to worry about geological hazards, then they should worry about the New Madrid fault and/or the San Andreas fault cutting loose again. Nowhere near as bad as Yellowstone erupting again, but a hell of a lot more likely to happen this century.

    1. Agreed .. On the upside, New Madrid will provide Chicago with a hellaton of shovel-ready jobs.
      .
      Mew

    2. I am worried about the consequences if the New Madrid fault cuts loose. Such family that I had in California moved out. My feelings towards the San Andreas fault are closer to anticipation. And I am actively hoping for the sudden discovery of the Capitol City and Windy City faults.

  5. Still it worries me that the bison are bugging out. They are one of the few species that were around for the last eruption so maybe they know something we don’t.

  6. OK, having thought a bit more…
    Why the heck did the reporter interview an associate professor in coastal Oregon about this?
    University of Idaho has one of the most respected Geology/Geophysics departments in the world*, they actually are involved with monitoring this, and I’m sure the school would appreciate the exposure and provide much greater access than a cursory overview with an associate professor.
    Or he could have contacted Idaho State University, which isn’t as respected in the field, but it’s right fricking there and focuses on the study of Yellowstone. (Not to mention their administration would fall all over themselves to get national exposure.)
    Heck, he could have called the most respected Geology/Geophysics school in the country–Colorado School of Mines–and talked to more than associate professor.
    .
    Yeah. I studied rocks at U of I. (Go Vandals.) And I live in the Snake River Plain on top of an extinct shield volcano. I’m a bit rusty, but if you want information, I can give you better scoop than you’ll find in the MSM.
    .
    *With respect to metamorphic and igneous strata. There isn’t much sedimentary rock in Idaho.

    1. Blaming Bush is so 2006. I blame the Koch Bros, this is obviously something they’re working on because it will somehow provide more oil for Keystone…
      .
      Mew

      1. Some Twit-wit actually postulated that fracking was causing the OK earthquakes and would trigger another Madrid Fault megaquake. The stupid runs deep on the Left.

  8. All I can think of is that cheesy SciFi movie “Supervolcano” from ~10 years ago.

  9. “it’s not like we can move Denver somewhere else.”

    Those of us in Denver would appreciate it if we’d give it a try. Maybe a New Denver down by Tucumari or Santa Fe? (Down in New Mexico as there’s no reason to mess up Texan politics with our idiots.)

    1. …If Yellowstone does go up, just get the f*ck out of town as soon as you can before your car chokes on the dust. At least, that’s the advice Harry Turtledove more or less gave when he wrote that Supervolcano trilogy, and it’s hard to argue his point. 🙂

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