Uh oh, Yellowstone Caldera Awakens

[Drake Tungsten]

drake did you see lost in translation? comments?

Not yet, but I want to. Have to wait for it to come out on video to see it here, though...

[Shi Huangdi]

So what exactly would it do if it erupted?

[Japher]

The Ash and crap would cover most of N. America. Much of the Northeast will be covered in Lava/magma, and world starvation will probably ensue since much of the food in America is produced on the West and Central coasts, these places won't see the sun for a while (decades)... Oh, and everyone within say 50 miles will be dead.

However, our surface area will probably increase, and we might get closer to Russia!!!!YAAAAY

Bad things would happen, very bad things

[mrmitchell]

Would it "shoot up" though from the caldera (and thus make good video) or just pump out huge floods of lava, and burn uncontrollably?

[Lonestar]

Don't worry, if it does go off, likely it will be a slow choking death.

[Japher]

But that's no fun... Let it Rain Fire!!!

[Lancer]

If the Yellowstone caldera blew it would be hard times for much of the world, but particularly the US. Take the US out of the equasion, eliminate half of the rest of the world's population, and go from there.

[Space05us]

A caldera is the largest type of volcano, when one blows it can literally cover the continent in ash destroying crops and clogging everything.

Is this where we all start to come up with our plans to save the world with impossible creations like 'time machines' and diggers that can 'jump start' the earths core and such?

these places won't see the sun for a while (decades)..

well its good to know that if it effects Barrow nothing will change.

[Boris Godunov]

Earthquakes are common for that area. There's no sign this is in any way a precursor to a big volcanic eruption.

You can unpack your bags now.

[Japher]

I think your, uh, not right Boris.

It is 'recent' news that they believe something is happening. It is only recent that they have been closing parts of the park due to sizemic activity. It is only recently that they have decided to start monitoring the place.

However, they also believe that the pressure has moved to the Rockies, where it can cool and calm itself.... or destroy the world!!!

[Boris Godunov]

They've been monitoring the caldera since 1923, and while there has been a noticeable uplift, there have been tons of earthquakes in that region in that time period. These aren't remotely unusual, as there are literally hundreds of minor earthquakes there every year. They are mere M 4 quakes. There have been at least seven M 6 quakes and one M 7 quake in the area since they've been gauging seismic activity there.

So there's no call to panic just yet.

[Space05us]

So there's no call to panic just yet.

you do realise that the more you tell someone not to panic they start to panic more right?

[Boris Godunov]

http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/calderas.htm

"Surveys in 1986 and later show this pattern of uplift has changed to subsidence, also at a rate of about 1/2 inch a year. We do not know if the change after 1985 represents the start of a major interval of subsidence or a minor reversal in a longer interval of uplift, but surveys as recent as 1993 show subsidence."

The uplift and subsidence are part of a cycle.

"Geologists don't expect another caldera explosion any time soon"

Will that sub for Oerdin?

[Gatekeeper]

If that thing blows, most of humanity can kiss its collective ass goodbye. Bottleneck, indeed.

Gatekeeper

[The Mad Monk]

We really have to get off this rock.