A New Look at the Yellowstone Supervolcano

The recent April 23, 2015 University of Utah report on the Yellowstone supervolcano has gotten a lot of press. And while a more detailed understanding of the magma chamber doesn't increase the danger, the news itself turned our thoughts towards this sleeping giant. Watch a video summary of the report here. Full text here.

Eruption history gives us lots of wiggle room and little cause for concern
The volcano's eruption history includes events 2 million, 1.2 million, and 640,000 years ago, not at all a regular pattern. The first two eruptions were 800,000 years apart and the last two were 560,000 years apart, so all we can guess, and that is still a guess, is that the volcano "could" erupt in the next 250,000 years, quite a bit of wriggle room, so no need to lose sleep over it. And three eruptions 560,000 to 800,000 years apart certainly does not establish a reliable pattern. We could be looking at something even sooner, or even later than 250,000 years. The earth is not on our timetable.

Ash fall distribution and depth in the event of as supervolcanic eruption
And there will likely be smaller eruptions along the way. This sleeping giant stirs occasionally, but the BIG stir will be devastating to the United States when it does occur.  See what the USGS predicts with respect to the distribution and depth of ash when the Yellowstone supervolcano does erupt.

Recent earthquake activity at Yellowstone
Main page
Big earthquake list
All earthquake list.

Yellowstone seismograph data
Station location map

Occasional earthquake swarms in the region of the caldera are not uncommon, and the links above will see a great deal of activity when things do pick up. Such swarms are just a reminder that the caldera is restless. The swarms have an extremely low chance of being a precursor to a supervolcanic eruption of the Yellowstone caldera, more likely we will see minor eruptions and witness minor earthquake events.

Calbuco Chile Volcano Images and Videos

The quantity of video and images from last month's eruption of the Calbuco Chile volcano is truly amazing. The volcano is well-monitored so this should not be too surprising

One of my favorite videos is a compilation video, note especially about 55 seconds in, wait for it, you won't be disappointed. Spectacular video of Calbuco volcano eruption.(55 seconds in especially). Enormous forces at work here, humbling.

And while beautiful and awe inspiring to gaze upon, these volcanoes can be quite destructive. A reminder to all of us that some things are completely out of our control.

Additional images and video of the Calbuco Eruption.