HW_YellowstoneVO-JAmari
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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 bird 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?
- At least 86 volcanoes are monitored observatory
2.
How many volcano(es), if any, are considered: a.
High Threat: - Yellowstone
b.
Moderate Threat:
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Dotsero Volcanic Field, San Francisco Volcanic Field, and Valles Caldera
c.
Low to Very Low Threat:
- Carrizozo Lava Flow, Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field, Red hill quemado Volcanic Field, Uinkaret Volcanic Field, and Zuni- Bandera Volcanic Field.
3.
Do any volcanoes have an advisory above green/normal? If so, which volcanoes, what color is the
advisory, and why?
- There three above green volcanos, those are Takawangha, Great Sitkin, and Semisopochnoi.
EES 0836
The Takawangha is yellow which alerts the level in an advisory. Great Sitkin and Semisopochnoi are both orange with the image of an eye on them which means that there on high alert.
Part 2
: YVO with more focus
As you can 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 Yellowstone under “threat potential” or click here
. 1.
Under “Quick Facts,” what type of volcano is Yellowstone?
-Yellowstone is a caldera
2.
What is the composition of the lava?
- Yellowstone composition is basalt to rhyolite
3.
When was the most recent major eruption?
-Yellostone’s most recent eruption was 70,000 years ago
4.
What is the threat potential for Yellowstone currently?
- the threat for it 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: the geyser had already had two big eruptions in 2023 both in january, There
is no field of work happening at this time but will pick back up once the snow starts to melt later in the year.
b.
Seismicity: There was a minor earthquake in January that was part of a swarm of 11 earthquakes that all occurred in January. 28 of the earthquakes were added to the ongoing
seismicity
c.
Ground deformation: Gradual Subsidence at a rate of 1 inch per year. Weather events such as snow and ice have been an issue causing problems with the accuracy of reports in
this field of observation
EES 0836
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?
- Lava Creek tuff happened .640 million years ago, the Mesa Falls tuff occurred 1.3 million years ago, and the huckleberry Ridge tuff happened 2.1 million years ago
8.
When comparing the most recent eruption to the two older eruptions, was this eruption particularly large?
-
When comparing them together, The younger eruption was larger in comparison with the mesa falls tuff, but also smaller than the huckleberry tuff. The dissension of the caldera, lava creek tuff, and huckleberry ridge tuff are similar in size.
9.
If Yellowstone were to erupt next week, would you expect to see a large or small eruption?
- I would say I wouldn’t be shocked if it did but it would be a large eruption because the one 2.1 million years ago was large and then the 1.3 million years ago was smaller, and then the .640 million years ago was larger again then maybe it is a pattern and the next one should be smaller.
Short Answer
(1-2 paragraph):
Now let’s get back to Yellowstone erupting in 2012. Write a 1-2 paragraph reflection on the portrayal of how Yellowstone erupted versus the research you conducted on the real Yellowstone volcano. In your write-up, address the following questions: ●
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?
-
In 2012 that science with Yellowstone was crazy first of all. I believe that something like that
wouldn’t happen unless Jesus is coming down. But when looking at the eruption one occurred about 2 million years ago, then the second one about 1 million, and then the third one about .5 million years from now. All the eruptions happened a million years ago so I am pretty sure it won’t be one another million years from now.
If yellow stone were to erupt, it would be a slow uplift of the land, The pressure will build up causing the volcano to erupt leaving magma to explode through fracture zones created during the uplift and the magma chamber will collapse due to the emptying of the magma being stored, last but not least there will be lava flows and smaller eruptions around the area destroy wildlife, land and maybe more
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