Yellowstone supervolcano larger than previously thought

[jimpeel]

If this thing cooks off it won't be pretty.

We have discussed this before HERE.

SOURCE

Yellowstone's Supervolcano More Massive Than Expected

Published April 13, 2011 | LiveScience

The gigantic underground plume of partly molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano might be bigger than previously thought, a new image suggests.

The study says nothing about the chances of a cataclysmic eruption at Yellowstone, but it provides scientists with a valuable new perspective on the vast and deep reservoir of fiery material that feeds such eruptions, the last of which occurred more than 600,000 years ago. [Related: Infographic - The Geology of Yellowstone.]

Earlier measurements of the plume were produced by using seismic waves — the waves generated by earthquakes — to create a picture of the underground region. The new picture was produced by examining the Yellowstone plume's electrical conductivity, which is generated by molten silicate rocks and hot briny water that is naturally present and mixed in with partly molten rock.

"It’s a totally new and different way of imaging and looking at the volcanic roots of Yellowstone," said study co-author Robert B. Smith, professor emeritus and research professor of geophysics at the University of Utah, and a coordinating scientist of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Ancient eruptions

Almost 17 million years ago, the deep plume of partly molten rock known as the Yellowstone hot spot first breached the surface in an eruption near what is now the Oregon-Idaho-Nevada border.

As North America drifted slowly southwest over the hot spot, there were more than 140 gargantuan caldera eruptions — the largest kind of eruption on Earth — along a northeast-trending path that is now Idaho's Snake River Plain.

The hot spot finally reached Yellowstone about 2 million years ago, yielding three huge caldera eruptions about 2 million, 1.3 million and 642,000 years ago.

Two of the eruptions blanketed half of North America with volcanic ash, producing 2,500 times and 1,000 times more ash than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state. Smaller eruptions occurred at Yellowstone in between the big blasts and as recently as 70,000 years ago.

Underground images

Smith said the geoelectric and seismic images of the Yellowstone plume look somewhat different because "we are imaging slightly different things." Seismic images highlight materials such as molten or partly molten rock that slow seismic waves, while the geoelectric image is sensitive to briny fluids that conduct electricity.

Seismic images of the plume made by Smith in 2009 showed the plume of molten rock dips downward from Yellowstone at a 60-degree angle and extends 150 miles (240 kilometers) west-northwest to a point at least 410 miles (660 km) under the Montana-Idaho border — as far as seismic imaging could "see."

The new electrical conductivity images show the conductive part of the plume dipping more gently, at an angle of perhaps 40 degrees to the west, and extending perhaps 400 miles (640 km) from east to west. The geoelectric image can "see" to a depth of only 200 miles (320 km).

The lesser tilt of the geoelectric plume image raises the possibility that the seismically imaged plume, shaped somewhat like a tilted tornado, may be enveloped by a broader, underground sheath of partly molten rock and liquids, Zhdanov and Smith say.

"It's a bigger size" in the geoelectric picture, Smith said. "We can infer there are more fluids" than shown by seismic images. Despite differences, he said, "this body that conducts electricity is in about the same location with similar geometry as the seismically imaged Yellowstone plume."

The new study has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, which plans to publish it within the next few weeks.

 

[catocom]

The bigger it is the better.
That means it's even less likely to (cork) and blow. Too many vents.

I think the main concern is earthquakes, mainly in the Miss. River area,
not to mention of coarse Cali. will drop off in the Pacific one day.

Yallowstone? nah, no prob.

 

[Gonz]

Yellowstone is a problem. A problem that we can do nothing about & little to prepare for. So, no need to worry. We can't change anything (unless driving electric 40 miles per charge cars & never looking at styrofoam works)

 

[catocom]

if they ever figure out how to regulate, so they can use geothermal for power,
we'd have a good start on power independence there.

I think a bunch or giant pop-off valves could work.

 

[Winky]

Yellowstone caldera erupts America destroyed

Of all the lame arsed dooms day scenarios this one comes the closest to reality of them all.
Thing is, by the time it finally happens we will have long since colonized other worlds.
Not to mention developed means of dealing with the issue.
Now how is that for unfounded optimism?

 

[catocom]

The way I see it..
We can do nothing until it blows and die without have exploited it's benefits,
or we can put it to use before we blow up.

I say start construction now.

 

[ResearchMonkey]

bring it on!

 

[2minkey]

okay. now who's gonna do it with no form of government support?

 

[catocom]

Ah, there's the rub.
The EPA would probably be the first contest.

 

[2minkey]

yup fuxed by old regs and who the fuck would put up capital behind such a risky venture?

 

[Winky]

Yellowstone supervolcano kills millions Film at eleven

It can be paid for by the green volcano tax

 

[catocom]

I can think of maybe a few entrepreneurs that might venture it, if they weren't
extorted by the gov.

 

[Gonz]

okay. now who's gonna do it with no form of government support?

WOOHOO!!!!! America rises again

 

[2minkey]

I can think of maybe a few entrepreneurs that might venture it, if they weren't
extorted by the gov.

and yet another excuse.

sad.

 

[Winky]

supervolcano larger than my butt

Things that no one will pay for
are not produced by for profit businesses.

A government spending 3.73 trillion dollars
doesn't produce a thing.

If you cut defense spending in half and stripped
out all the redistribution programs and privatized education.

Them suckers could get by on less than 900 billion a year.

 

[catocom]

and yet another excuse.

sad.

Are you saying nobody would enforce regulations?

 

[2minkey]

no i'm saying it's sad that you have go immediately to assertions "government extortion" and have nothing constructive. but certainly the lollipop crowd appreciates your fatalism.

 

[catocom]

yep. it's sad that that's the truth.
Do you have any suggestions yourself,
or are you just going to flop around like a carp on a sunny beach?

 

[2minkey]

it's pretty obvious what my opinion is. nobody in their right mind in private industry would invest without serious government support. ROI is too long term and the risk is pretty big i.e. venture capital is not going to come out of the woodwork. i'd be happy if i were wrong. but i'm likely not.

 

[Winky]

no one in their right mind...

"nobody in their right mind in private industry would invest without serious government support."

Now that speaks volumes!

silly commie