Supervolcanoes

What is a Supervolcano?

• The term "supervolcano" implies a volcanic center that has had an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index (VEI), meaning the measured deposits for that eruption is greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles). 

• The VEI scale was created as a general measurement of the explosivity of an eruption. 

• All VEI 8 eruptions occurred tens of thousands to millions of years ago making the volume of ejecta or deposits the best method for classification. 

• An eruption is classified as a VEI 8 if the measured volume of deposits is greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles). 

• Therefore a supervolcano is a volcano that at one point in time erupted more than 1,000 cubic kilometers of deposits. Yellowstone, like many other supervolcanoes, has also had much smaller eruptions.

The Formation of a Supervolcano

Cool Geography

Where are Supervolcanoes Located?

Locate the supervolcanoes game

Yellowstone Supervolcano

Where is Yellowstone Supervolcano?

Yellowstone is located in the Yellowstone National Park, NW Wyoming, USA

Diagram of the Caldera

Map Showing the Migration of the Hot Spot below Yellowstone

Yellowstone interactive NGM

Natural Attractions of Yellowstone National Park

Video

Find out some more about the attractions of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone Attractions Panoramas

Fact File:

• The Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field developed through three volcanic cycles spanning over two million years and including two of the world's largest known eruptions. 

• Yellowstone is presently the site of one of the world's largest hydrothermal systems including Earth's largest concentration of geysers.

• The magma chamber stretches for more than 90km (55 miles) and contains 200-600 cubic km of molten rock.

• The last major eruption, which occurred 640,000 years ago, sent ash across the whole of North America, affecting the planet’s climate.

• Some believe a massive eruption is overdue, estimating that Yellowstone’s volcano goes off every 700,000 years or so.

• 3 eruptions so far 2.1 million years ago, 1.3 million years ago and 640,000 years ago.

What would happen if Yellowstone Erupted?

What would be the effects short term and long term?

• • • on a local, national, international/global scale

• Social : human life, agriculture (farming/food supply), amenities (electricity, water etc), health, transport / infrastructure
• Economic
• Environmental

Possible effects of an eruption

Eruption of Yellowstone

Links

BBC Supervolcanoes

The World's Biggest Bang

GCSE Bitesize Supervolcanoes

Supervolcanoes Radio Programme

USGS - Yellowstone

National Geographic Magazine Article