The dangerous supervolcano that once destroyed much of what’s now the USA is much bigger than vulcanologists previously thought.
That’s the disturbing information confirmed by an important new study published in the prestigious journal of Geophysical Research Letters.
The volcano has been producing ominous warning signs the past several years and an area near what used to be a large lake is now sealed off to the public.
The lake boiled away and all the fish died. Since that time sulfuric fumaroles have opened in the earth and the ground has become so hot shoes melt into it.
Although most scientists claim there’s no reason for concern, some do express worry that a huge lava bulge has been steadily rising. The hotspot that heats geysers, springs and bubbling mud, has been growing larger for more than 36 months.
A survey in 2009 conducted by scientists gathered past seismic wave data from earthquakes in the region to create a 3D image of the subterranean hotspot. The actual ancient caldera, now mostly a shallow impression in the ground, spans across three states: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
All experts agree that if another massive eruption occurs the concussion, lava, superheated gas and ash fall would effectively destroy almost half of the US and be the greatest single catastrophe in recorded world history.
New survey differs from old
The new Yellowstone survey analyzed the gigantic volcano with a much greater degree of accuracy using a geoelectric approach.
The researchers measured subtle differences in the underlying rock and complied data on their electrical conductivity. They used the natural geography of the volcanic structure—superheated salty water and melted silicate rocks—that naturally produce electrical currents.
Describing the procedure to the BBC News, Michael Zhdanov, a co-author of the study said, “It’s like comparing ultrasound and MRI in the human body; they are different imaging technologies.” Zhdanov is a professor of geophysics at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Zhdanov’s co-author on the study is Robert B. Smith, from the same university. Smith revealed that the plume is larger than past measurements indicated and that implies more liquids are present in the underground volcanic plume.
He went on to say that, “this body that conducts electricity is in about the same location with similar geometry as the seismically imaged Yellowstone plume.”
The last eruption at Yellowstone occurred about 70,000 years ago. Some experts have been saying the next major one is long overdue.
