Yellowstone National Park at High Threat
Scientists have determined that Yellowstone has erupted every 600,000 years. Since 1923, scientists have been observing the constant changes under the park. Volcanologists have been tracking the movement of magma under the park and in parts of Yellowstone the ground has risen over seventy centimeters this century. Magma settles less then five miles underground in some spots. The entire park and miles past it are a hot spot for volcanic activity. The geysers, the steam vents, the mud pots, and the hot spots are in the thousands. And the hot spot is said to be spreading under the Rocky Mountains.
Misaligned faults trigger hundreds of earthquakes that shake the park daily. Mysterious four-inch bulges appeared in the central Oregon region of the hot spots, and recent developments have prompted closure of sections of the Norris Geyser Basin due to rapid heating of the ground (over 200 degrees) and new steam vents and increased geyser activity. Yellowstone Lake temperatures have risen from 66 degrees to 85 degrees, seems as though the magma is recycling from the Earth’s upper crust not from deep below and has caused the Lake to rise over 100 feet. U.S. Geological Survey research geologist Liz Morgan states that the bulge is over two thousand feet long and has the potential to explode at any time. Several trails in the park have been closed due to boiling ground. One widely posted e-mail claimed the park contained a “dead zone” that was spreading outward, killing everything. Yellowstone Lake was “filled with dead fish floating everywhere.”
Government engineers have been urged to gradually vent steam and magma by drilling rather than wait for a super volcanic eruption; however no action has been taken. A receptionist at the chamber of commerce commented that she had better things to worry about, many scientists state that this is too huge of a disaster to worry about.
Natural disasters are disasters, and occurrences that if known about, the public should be aware of in order to prepare, or if we can’t prepare, at least we can know the details and understand what is capable of happening. And that is what I would like to re-enforce and bring to the public’s attention. Information that I have learned about what we are facing.
Yellowstone has been on high threat for eruption. If eruption happens, the explosion would be the loudest thing heard by man. Several extremely large earthquakes would shake the Yellowstone region and break the ground where the magma is being held. The sky will darken and black acid rain will fall. Magma would be hurled into the atmosphere more than 60 kilometers and within 600 square miles, all life would be killed by ash and lava flows. The entire US and parts of Canada would be covered with ash about 3 feet or more thick. Depending on prevailing winds, within 24 to 72 hours, the effects could spread all the way to the east coast. The planet would be taking in more carbon than it is giving out causing volcanic smog that is a combination of water vapor, volcanic gases, acid fumes, and ash. Besides the initial impact causing thousands upon thousands of deaths, the long term effects would cause us to basically be thrown into a nuclear or volcanic winter for years. Sunlight would be blocked, temperatures would drop 20 to 30 degrees, agriculture would be no longer, water supplies contaminated, air quality severely depleted, in a nutshell, we would be at extinction. There is no limitation set to the damage that could be done.
So are geologists doing anything in the case of this ever happening? Some say yes. Geologists have called for a taskforce to be set up to consider emergency management of an eruption. But some say that if an eruption happens there is nothing that can be done, so why even set up any type of emergency taskforce. Whether you live by a volcano, a super volcano, or anywhere and want to prepare for the worst, here is what I suggest you need or set aside for emergency situations. Several blankets and thermo clothing, hats, sunglasses, two or more months supply of fresh water, canned foods with self opening lids (if not you’ll need a can opener), any foods that do not go bad quickly and can be kept for several months, extra cash on hand, and if you have pets, remember they need ample amounts of food and water and warmth as well. So what are the chances of this horrific explosion happening? The Yellowstone caldera has been classified a high threat for volcanic eruption along with 36 others as high threat. It could happen tomorrow. It could happen in a day, next months, five years or 80 years from now. But it will happen, and when it blows its stack, everything will change. Unlike other threats to mankindâÂ?¦asteroids, nuclear attacks and global warming to name a few, there’s little to be done about a super volcano. Stepped up monitoring and a new 24-hour watch office could lead to more timely warnings and help avoid human catastrophes at Yellowstone and nationally, according to the United States Geological Survey. So the rumblings currently going on underneath Yellowstone should be a warning not just to those who plan to visit the park, but to the whole world. If the increased thermal activity is the signs to a super eruption, we may well be on the brink of the biggest catastrophe the modern world has ever witnessed. So be aware and be prepared.
