Yellowstone Supervolcano

Discussion in 'Earth Science' started by Wolfboy, May 25, 2004.

  1. nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

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    Facinating, how did this toba event escape my curious mind...

    Thanks.

    This just re-affirms my general philosophy of humanity getting the hell off this planet in the next hundred years. At least some of us.
     
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  3. matthyaouw Registered Senior Member

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    Where would you go?
    I can't really see conditions being much better elsewhere

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  5. jumpercable 6EQUJ5 'WOW' Registered Senior Member

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    It's just a gut feeling on my part, but TOBA is 'still alive' and breathing. Who is to say that another big earthquake along the sumatra fault line 'could' awaken this awesome sleeping giant one more time for another big blast. And if the Yellowstone supervolcano ever decides to blow it's top again in this century or even the next, then we get a 'Double Whammy', don't we? Something not to look forward too.
     
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  7. nietzschefan Thread Killer Valued Senior Member

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    That olde saying don't put all your eggs in one basket.
     
  8. Starthane Xyzth returns occasionally... Valued Senior Member

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    If something that big were definitely going to happen, geologists could probably give us years of warning. Enough for governments everywhere to prepare shelters, food stores, reconstruction plans etc.
     
  9. Starthane Xyzth returns occasionally... Valued Senior Member

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    'Scuze me... I already said that, didn't I? Way back when this venerable thread was new...
     
  10. P. BOOM! Registered Senior Member

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    Preliminary Yellowstone Hazards report released...

    It's 98 pages long, but there is some interesting reading in it, particularly about hydrothermal hazards.

    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1071/
     
  11. w1z4rd Valued Senior Member

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    What would happen if you nuked the top of the volcano?
     
  12. Nickelodeon Banned Banned

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    Stop obsessing about nuking Yellowstone.
     
  13. w1z4rd Valued Senior Member

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    Lol, Im just curious. Would it start the volcano off or should i just shuttup and pretend I never thought of the idea?

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  14. matthyaouw Registered Senior Member

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    I've heard a shocking amount of variants on suggestions of bombing/drilling volcanoes to set them off early & prevent damage so here's my thoughts on the subject-

    I'm not sure of the logistics of it, but I'd imagine it would be a very difficult, expensive, dangerous & probably a hit & miss process if it's possible at all. The question is 'when could it actually be justified'? If a volcano is certain to erupt soon, it's probably too late to take action, and if it's not, then how could you convince people that it is worth doing, when the volcano may not even erupt naturally within anyone's present lifetime? I'd imagine people would be more inclined to wait it out. Another problem would be liability for damage- If a small eruption is set off with a bomb which unexpectedly causes a lahar that swamps a town (even if evacuated as a precaution), every resident will hold the organization involved responsible and they'll probably have to pay out millions if not billions to all affected.
     
  15. Starthane Xyzth returns occasionally... Valued Senior Member

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    Yes... I should think the Federal Emergency Bureau (or whatever it's called) would be afraid to evacuate anyone, block any roads or create any firebreaks these days, for fear of litigation...
     
  16. MetaKron Registered Senior Member

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    I will bet that someone can get Shrub to do it.
     
  17. BoSmoke Mr Ganja Lover Registered Senior Member

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    'Shrub'? do you mean Dubya Bush?
     
  18. JEFFLARSON Registered Member

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    kaboom

    if the calderea was going to blow
    and the gov knew it no way would they tell
    it would cause a panic as bad as when it blows
    look at affected area all those people trying to leave this area abandoning the farms that feed usa and more
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2007
  19. P. BOOM! Registered Senior Member

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    They don't know...The YVO was created only in the last couple of years. Not enough time to study something as big and complex as the Yellowstone Caldera.

    http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/

    The biggest threat from Yellowstone are hydrothermal explosions...The YVO recently came out with a report on them and other hazards. Very long report, but lots of info...

    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1071/
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2007
  20. Ophiolite Valued Senior Member

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    There is no known method of stopping geologists from talking. The government could not control the information.
     
  21. P. BOOM! Registered Senior Member

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    Who's trying to leave? The population of the Yellowstone area is increasing.
     
  22. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

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    OK, it was in the news today that the lava dome is swelling and the ground is going up. But its not gonna explode. Didn't they say the same thing about Mt St Helens before it blew up?
     
  23. Red Devil Born Again Athiest Registered Senior Member

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    You got that right!
     

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