The volcanic plume beneath Yellowstone is larger than previously thought

[n2doc]

By John Roach

The volcanic plume beneath Yellowstone is larger than previously thought, according to a new study that measured the electrical conductivity of the hot and partly molten rock.

The findings say nothing about the chances of another cataclysmic eruption at Yellowstone, but they give scientists another view of the vast and deep reservoir that feeds such eruptions.

"It's a totally new and different way of imaging and looking at the volcanic roots of Yellowstone," study co-author Robert Smith, an emeritus professor of geophysics at the University of Utah, said in a press release.

more

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/11/6452336-supervolcano-plume-sized-up



This image, based on variations in electrical conductivity of underground rock, shows the volcanic plume of partly molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano. Yellow and red indicate higher conductivity, green and blue indicate lower conductivity. Made by University of Utah geophysicists and computer scientists, this is the first large-scale "geoelectric" image of the Yellowstone hotspot.

Credit: University of Utah

[Kber]

1. Oh good.

[still_one]

2. If the Yellowstone Caldera ever erupts, life in the U.S. would be changed as we know it /nt

[Myrina]

4. Changed, or 'largely eradicated'?

:shrug:

[still_one]

5. People will survive /nt

[truebrit71]

9. In the US? Try on planet earth...

..large portions of the US would become uninhabitable..

[Donnachaidh]

10. I would think it would be an extinction level event

*life* might survive, but I doubt the human race would. We're the dinosaur equivalent now.

[qazplm]

13. I dont think so

it might kill 100s of millions, heck it might even kill billions, but extinction level? I just don't see it. Enough folks would survive.

[obxhead]

12. Planet. Life on the entire planet would be changed as we know it. nt

[niyad]

3. so the question is, which gets us first--yellowstone or the repukes?

[still_one]

6. Without question the repukes, unless of course the Democrats start to fight /nt

[niyad]

7. I am not holding my breath for that possibility

[mn9driver]

8. It's overdue for an eruption.

Could happen any time in the next 50,000 years or so.

[phantom power]

11. I admit I was sort of hoping for "smaller"