Will the Yellowstone Volcano Erupt in Our Lifetime? (+Map
The possibility of the volcano under Yellowstone National Park erupting is a hot topic right now, especially with the recent 4.8 magnitude earthquake and videos circulating that allegedly show animals fleeing the park.
The volcano under the park is so large and has the potential to produce such a massive eruption that it’s often referred to as a supervolcano.
Earthquakes are common in the area, with between 1,000 and 2,000 quakes in the area per year due to the volcanic and tectonic nature of the region.
Rising Number of Earthquakes
But the 4.8 quake was the largest recorded since February 1980, and is part of an uplift of earthquake activity recently, caused by the upward movement of molten rock beneath the Earth’s crust, according to the U.S. Geological Service.
The number of earthquakes in the Yellowstone region has been on a trend upward for many years.
Of note is that while recent 4.8 earthquake was more intense than usual but a much more intense quake actually struck in August 1959.
The 7.5 magnitude quake hit in Montana, rattling Yellowstone and killing 28 people.
Seismologists with the University of Utah emphasized that the recent quake doesn’t signal an impending eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano, also known as the Yellowstone Caldera.
A caldera is a volcanic crater that is caused by explosions of extraordinary violence.
There were three explosions that formed the crater, beginning with the Huckleberry Ridge eruption 2.1 million years ago. The Mesa Falls eruption took place 1.3 million years ago. The Lava Creek eruption took place about 640,000 years ago. Several other calderas were formed during these explosions as well.
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