Hello another question: why is yellowstone national park thought to be significant relative to volcanoes. thanks
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/
Yellowstone National Park is thought to be significant relative to volcanoes due to its unique geological features and the presence of the Yellowstone Caldera, which is one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world. Here's some information on why it is considered significant:
1. Supervolcano: Yellowstone National Park sits atop a massive hotspot, where molten rock rises to the surface. The Yellowstone Caldera is the result of intense volcanic activity that has occurred over millions of years. This supervolcano has had three major eruptions in the past, with the most recent one occurring around 640,000 years ago.
2. Geological Hotspot: The park's geysers, hot springs, and mud pots are a visible manifestation of the volcanic activity happening beneath the surface. Yellowstone has over 10,000 thermal features, including the famous Old Faithful geyser. These features are formed due to superheated water being expelled from underground reservoirs.
3. Magma Chamber: Beneath Yellowstone lies a massive magma chamber, a reservoir of molten rock. This chamber is estimated to be about 50 kilometers wide and extends deep into the Earth's crust. The presence of this magma chamber is a significant aspect of the volcanic activity and helps scientists monitor the volcano's behavior.
4. Potential for Eruption: Although Yellowstone is considered an active volcano, it is not currently showing signs of an imminent eruption. However, due to the potential scale of a volcanic eruption, monitoring the activity and studying the geology of Yellowstone helps in understanding volcanic processes, forming strategies for disaster management, and predicting future geological events.
Understanding the significance of Yellowstone National Park's volcanic activity requires studying its geological history, monitoring its activity, and analyzing data collected through various methods like seismology, geochemistry, and geophysics. Scientists continue to research and monitor Yellowstone in order to deepen our knowledge of volcanoes and volcanic systems.