We give an overview of present geological and hydrological knowledge of the Old The Yellowstone Plateau hosts an active volcanic system, with subterranean magma molten rock , boiling, pressurized waters, and a variety of active faults with significant earthquake hazards.
Within the next few decades, light-to-moderate earthquakes and steam explosions are certain to occur. Volcanic eruptions are less likely, but are ultimately Most volcano hazards are associated with eruptions. However, some hazards, such as lahars and debris avalanches, can occur even when a volcano is not erupting. Although no eruptions of lava or volcanic ash have occurred for many thousands of years, future eruptions are likely.
In the next few hundred years, The cataclysmic eruption of Mount St. Helens Lipman and Mullineaux, in southwestern Washington ushered in a decade marked by more worldwide volcanic disasters and crises than any other in recorded history. Volcanoes killed more people over 28, in the 's than during the 78 years following eruption of Mount Pelee Despite two centuries of scientific study, basic questions persist about geysers—why do they exist?
What determines their behavior? A fumarole can vent for centuries or quickly go extinct, depending on the longevity of its heat source. New research suggests that how often Old Faithful and other Yellowstone geysers erupt may depend on annual rainfall patterns.
The United States has active volcanoes. More than half of them could erupt explosively, sending ash up to 20, or 30, feet where commercial air traffic flies.
USGS scientists are working to improve our understanding of volcano hazards to help protect communities and reduce the risks. These types of events are the most likely explosive hazard from the Yellowstone Volcano.
Excelsior Geyser erupted in a series of violent hydrothermal explosions in the s and early s; one of these eruptions is shown in this colorized postcard made from a photograph. These were the largest such events to occur in the Yellowstone region in historical times. Original photograph by F. Jay Haynes, ; date on postcard is incorrect. High-resolution bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake left showing the location of hydrothermal vents black dots on the lake floor.
Skip to main content. Search Search. Natural Hazards. Learn more: Modeling ash fall distribution from a Yellowstone supereruption Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. Apply Filter. What is a supervolcano? What is a supereruption? The term "supervolcano" implies a volcanic center that has had an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index VEI , meaning that at one point in time it erupted more than 1, cubic kilometers cubic miles of material.
What would happen if a "supervolcano" eruption occurred again at Yellowstone? If another large, caldera-forming eruption were to occur at Yellowstone, its effects would be worldwide. Such a giant eruption would have regional effects such as falling ash and short-term years to decades changes to global climate. Those parts of the surrounding states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming that are closest to Yellowstone would be When was the last time Yellowstone erupted?
The most recent volcanic activity at Yellowstone consisted of rhyolitic lava flows that erupted approximately 70, years ago. Is Yellowstone monitored for volcanic activity? Because the evidence of earlier eruptions may have been either buried or destroyed, we do not really know how often the volcano has actually erupted.
Helens and Yellowstone. Public domain. During the three giant caldera-forming eruptions that occurred between 2. Wind carried sulfur aerosol and the lightest ash particles around the planet and likely caused a notable decrease in temperatures around the globe. Many eruptive units found along the path of the Yellowstone hotspot have been dated, but only a few of them represent large caldera-forming eruptions.
At least five volcanic fields centered on large caldera complexes have been identified. Some of these caldera complexes erupted climatically more than once; probably 15 to 20 caldera-forming eruptions have occurred along the hotspot as it left a trail from western Idaho to Yellowstone within the past Volcanic activity began in the Yellowstone National Park region a little before about 2 million years ago.
Molten rock magma rising from deep within the Earth produced three cataclysmic eruptions more powerful than any in the world's recorded history. The first caldera-forming eruption occurred about 2. The eruptive blast removed so much magma from its subsurface storage reservoir that the ground above it collapsed into the magma chamber and left a gigantic depression in the ground- a hole larger than the state of Rhode Island.
The huge crater, known as a caldera, measured as much as 80 kilometers long, 65 kilometers wide, and hundreds of meters deep, extending from outside of Yellowstone National Park into the central area of the Park see map in question above for location information.
Later, activity shifted to a smaller region within the Island Park area of eastern Idaho, just southwest of Yellowstone National Park, and produced another large caldera-forming eruption 1. Subsequent activity has been focused within the area of the National Park, and another huge eruption , years ago formed the Yellowstone caldera as we now see it.
The three caldera-forming eruptions, respectively, were about 6,, , and 2, times larger than the May 18, eruption of Mt. Scientists also collect information is on temperature, chemistry, and gas concentrations at selected hydrothermal features and chloride concentrations in major rivers. A monthly activity summary, real-time monitoring of seismicity and water flow, and near real-time monitoring of ground deformation, can be found at the Yellowstone Volcanic Observatory website.
Scientists from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory watch an array of monitors in place throughout the region. These monitors would detect sudden or strong earthquake activity, ground shifts, and volcanic gasses that would indicate increasing activity.
No such evidence exists at this time. In addition, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists collaborate with scientists from all over the world to study the hazards of the Yellowstone volcano. View current data about earthquakes, ground movement, and stream flow.
Source: Data Store Collection To search for additional information, visit the Data Store. Yellowstone's hydrothermal systems are the visible expression of the immense Yellowstone volcano. Yellowstone preserves earth's most extraordinary collection of hot springs, geysers, mudpots, fumaroles, and travertine terraces. A mountain range near Heart Lake located entirely within Yellowstone and named for their red volcanic rock. A volcano, geysers and other thermal features, earthquakes, and glaciers shape Yellowstone's landscape.
Explore This Park. Info Alerts Maps Calendar Reserve. Alerts In Effect Dismiss. Dismiss View all alerts. The steep, columnar basalt cliffs on the opposite side of the river from the Tower Fall overlook are remnants of an ancient lava flow, providing a window into the past volcanic forces that shaped much of the Yellowstone landscape.
Yellowstone's Restless Giant The Yellowstone supervolcano is one of our planet's restless giants. Duration: 5 minutes, 55 seconds. The location of Yellowstone's three calderas and two resurgent domes. Volume comparison of global volcanic eruptions. Siegel, Recent Activity Remarkable ground deformation has been documented along the central axis of the caldera between Old Faithful and White Lake in Pelican Valley in historic time.
Molten rock, or magma, rises in convection cells like water boiling in a pot. A hot spot may arise from a heated plume originating from the mantle-core boundary left side of illustration , or one originating from higher up in the mantle right side of illustration. The magma reservoirs of the Yellowstone hot spot originate at a much shallower depth than the mantle plume. Frequently Asked Questions Is Yellowstone a volcano? Within the past two million years, some volcanic eruptions have occurred in the Yellowstone area—three of them super eruptions.
What is the caldera shown on the park map? The Yellowstone caldera was created by a massive volcanic eruption approximately , years ago. Later lava flows filled in much of the caldera, now it is 30 x 45 miles.
When did the Yellowstone volcano last erupt? Approximately , years ago, creating what is now the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake.
There have been more than 60 smaller eruptions since then and the last of the 60—80 post-caldera lava flows was about 70, years ago. Earthquakes— to 3, per year— also reveal activity below ground.
The University of Utah Seismograph Station tracks this activity closely. What is Yellowstone National Park doing to stop or prevent an eruption?
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