HW_YellostoneVO
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Dec 6, 2023
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EES 0836
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO)
Disasters: Geology vs. Hollywood
Introduction
This week, we watched a clip from the movie 2012 (2009), where the supervolcano Yellowstone erupts.
While there are some (to put it mildly) inaccuracies with the clip, fascination surrounds the volcano. The
public, without prompting from geologists, gets excited when anything
out of the ordinary happens
within
the area of Yellowstone. Fortunately, because of organizations like the United States Geological Survey
(USGS), we are keeping a watchful eye on the supervolcano. Let’s look into what is currently happening
at Yellowstone and if there is anything we should be worried about.
Learning Objectives
●
Compare how the depiction of an eruption of Yellowstone from the movie 2012 related to real-
world phenomena.
(3, 4, b, d)
●
Outline how the eruption of Yellowstone would affect people and the environment.
(3, 2, d)
●
Assess the possibility of a future eruption through current observations.
(3, 5, d)
Part 1:
YVO at birds eye view
If you visit
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
, you can see they observe more than just Yellowstone. Use
the USGS YVO website to answer the following questions.
1.
How many volcanoes are monitored at this observatory?
10
2.
How many volcano(es), if any, are considered:
a.
High Threat:
0
b.
Moderate Threat:
1
c.
Low to Very Low Threat:
9
3.
Do any volcanoes have an advisory above green/normal? If so, which volcanoes, what color is the
advisory, and why?
there are none above green
Part 2
: YVO with more focus
As you could see in part 1, YVO is monitoring more than just the Yellowstone volcano. But we are here to
look specifically at Yellowstone. Is it leading up to something, or is it just doing what it always does?
Either click on the link to Yellostone under “threat potential” or
clictr433k here
.
1.
Under “Quick Facts,” what type of volcano is Yellowstone?
Yellowstone is a Caldera volcano.
EES 0836
2.
What is the composition of the lava?
The composition of the lava is
basalt to rhyolite.
3.
When was the most recent major eruption?
the most recent major eruption was
70,000 years ago.
4.
What is the threat potential for Yellowstone currently?
the potential threat for Yellowstone is high.
5.
Click on “Volcano Updates,” and fill in the following:
a.
Volcano Alert Level: normal
b.
Aviation Color Code: Green
6.
Summarize the “Activity Summary”
a.
Recent work: Steamboat Geyser erupted on August 25, marking the sixth eruption of the
year. The boardwalk between Sponge Geyser and Doublet Pool reopened, and
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists continued field work.
b.
Seismicity: In August 2023, the University of Utah Seismograph Stations recorded 136
earthquakes in Yellowstone National Park, with the largest being a minor 2.7 magnitude
event. The largest earthquake in the sequence, a magnitude 1.7, occurred on August 2 at
05:22 AM MDT.
c.
Ground deformation: GPS stations in Yellowstone Caldera recorded a pause in long-term
ground subsidence in August, with seasonal uplift occurring in May-July and steady
subsidence between October and June 2023.
7.
Click on “Geology and History,” and then “Eruption History.” In the past 2.1 million years, there
have been 3 eruptions. What were these 3 eruptions named, and when did they occur?
Yellowstone caldera -0.640 million years ago, Henry’s Fork caldera -1.3 million year ago, Big
Bend Ridge/ Snake River/and Red Mountains caldera segments -2.1 million years ago.
8.
When comparing the most recent eruption to the two older eruptions, was this eruption
particularly large? the most recent one was very large, it covered 7,500 km^2, and the dimension
was 85 km x45km.
EES 0836
9.
If Yellowstone were to erupt next week, would you expect to see a large or small eruption?
It would be large eruption as it the largest active volcano.
Short Answer
(1-2 paragraph):
While Yellowstone’s beauty is apparent, the mantle plume that drives the geothermal activity within the
park is not as well known. Watch the
Yellowstone erupts scene
from the movie 2012 (2009) and write 1-2
paragraphs that explains how likely something like this is and what you think (order of events) will
happen if/when Yellowstone erupts.
●
Do you think it will erupt within our lifetime?
●
How confident in your prediction are you?
●
Based on research, there seems to be a sequence in how Yellowstone erupts. If Yellowstone were
to erupt, what would the eruption sequence look like?
It is highly improbable that Yellowstone's super volcano will erupt within our lifetime. Geological
processes governing such eruptions operate on an exceedingly long timescale, making an imminent
eruption highly unlikely. Continuous scientific monitoring helps assess any potential risks, but there is
currently no evidence or consensus to suggest a near-term super volcanic eruption is possible.
If Yellowstone erupted, it would most likely start out by years or decades of increasing seismic activity,
ground deformation, and changes in gas emissions. This could be preceded by smaller eruptions or
hydrothermal explosions before a possible super volcanic eruption, which would be characterized by a
massive explosion and the release of ash and volcanic gases.
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