Yellowstone Park's SuperVolcano is bigger than previously estimated

[star-warrior]

It last erupted 640,000 years ago, and twice before that, 1.3 million and 2.1 millions ago. They give an average gap of 700,000 years before each eruption, but that's just a guess based on the small data sample.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25312674

he supervolcano that lies beneath Yellowstone National Park in the US is far larger than was previously thought, scientists report.

A study shows that the magma chamber is about 2.5 times bigger than earlier estimates suggested.

A team found the cavern stretches for more than 90km (55 miles) and contains 200-600 cubic km of molten rock.

 

[mikey3000]

Bring-It-On...

 

[SaskGuy]

I don't want to sound like a nutcase or anything, but I'm honestly worried about this thing going off within my lifetime. Ah, all the more reason to party and live it up

 

[cgymike]

Will South Africa be safe from the blast?

 

[JayHawk]

Will South Africa be safe from the blast?

The 'theory' is that if it goes, so much materiel will be jettisoned into the atmosphere that the entire globe would eventually freeze in a new ice age. IF that is the case then the only safe haven may be at the equators, but eventually even they would freeze. In spite of the exposure related fatalities, the main issue would be lack of food production.

 

[Pcp3t3]

That's interesting. Thanks for the article.

 

[cgymike]

The 'theory' is that if it goes, so much materiel will be jettisoned into the atmosphere that the entire globe would eventually freeze in a new ice age. IF that is the case then the only safe haven may be at the equators, but eventually even they would freeze. In spite of the exposure related fatalities, the main issue would be lack of food production.

OK...about the same chance as an asteroid .... basically zero in our puny lifespans.

 

[JayHawk]

OK...about the same chance as an asteroid .... basically zero in our puny lifespans.

Perhaps but worrying about things you cannot possibly alter is the new black -- donchaknow?

 

[alphaxxx]

Am I the only one who would love to see it go off?

 

[Latimer]

^
No. I'd love to see it as well. Of course I also want to survive and see how it all plays out.

I'm going to be in close proximity to Mt Etna in a few weeks, and don't want to be anywhere near there for the next major eruption.
I've experienced a few very minor eruptions on prior visits--enough ash falling that you want to get the hell out ASAP. Pretty exciting though to fly over and see the burning caldera.

 

[cgymike]

Perhaps but worrying about things you cannot possibly alter is the new black -- donchaknow?

I am not worried. The probability of death from such an event is low and not different from general chance of death anytime anywhere...

 

[cityboy-stl]

Just my luck...if I won the $400 million Mega-Millions, the damn thing would blow the next day.

 

[eastofeden]

Anytime I hear these things I have one response...IF I was Mother Nature (or GOD as I sometimes like to call her)...I would have kicked our sorry asses a long time ago. I hope she does unleash her fury...it would be a fitting response to our collective arrogance.

 

[Kabluey]

So it might go at any moment... give or take a time slightly greater than the length of human history...

 

[star-warrior]

Calm down folks... It ain't gonna blow quite so soon, unless it gets some direct impact from some huge meteor or something, then we'll be fucked.

The estimate of another 5 - 8000 years until the next big eruption may give us time to invest in off world activities and return once its safe to do so to rebuild.

 

[Benvolio]

Will South Africa be safe from the blast?

Probably yes. There have been at least three eruptions of Yellowstone before, and our ancestors in the Rift Valley of Africa survived. Ergo, there is a good chance the inhabitants will survive the next one as well. The eventual eruption seems inevitable, but statistically it is very unlikely to happen in our lifetimes.

 

[T-Rexx]

Bring-It-On...

Am I the only one who would love to see it go off?

^
No. I'd love to see it as well.

Add me to those who would like to see it blow.

...IF I was Mother Nature (or GOD as I sometimes like to call her)...I would have kicked our sorry asses a long time ago. I hope she does unleash her fury...it would be a fitting response to our collective arrogance.

Yes, exactly.

The single worst thing to happen to planet Earth was the evolution of mankind. This would be a pretty terrific planet, but for us. Time to give some other life forms a chance.

 

[Sausy]

Calm down folks... It ain't gonna blow quite so soon, unless it gets some direct impact from some huge meteor or something, then we'll be fucked.

The estimate of another 5 - 8000 years until the next big eruption may give us time to invest in off world activities and return once its safe to do so to rebuild.

Closest to my view... some think humanity deserves extinction but I think though it will take a long time we'll get it right in the long run essentially, and advance enough to be able to prepare for contingencies such as this. We're natural explorers by heart as a species and will one day not be bound to Earth as our only home, and catastrophic fates if and when disasters strike on a planetary scale.

 

[BillyT]

 

[Kabluey]

Add me to those who would like to see it blow.

Yes, exactly.

The single worst thing to happen to planet Earth was the evolution of mankind. This would be a pretty terrific planet, but for us. Time to give some other life forms a chance.

Takes intelligent life to appreciate a place like earth.
Don't think for a moment that any other species tries to appreciate the entirety of earth the way mankind does.

Jerks do ruin things, so it's up to the rest to curb their ways