Freet
23-Apr-09, 19:23
Yup..if you like standing atop one of the largest volcanoes in the world, then this is the place to be.
For those that don't know, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has a humungous tub o' lava holding it up. So big in fact that, should it ever get moody, the earth (as in ALL the earth) will be severely affected. So severely in fact that most, even on the other side of the world, will most likely not live through the event.
This 'super' volcano has erupted 3 times in the distant past. The first happened around 2 million years ago, the second around 800k years after that. The third around 600k years after the second. It has now been around 640k years since it's last "attitude adjustment" and some say we are due for another one. The volcano seems to agree.
The folks that watch this kinda thing say that there have been increased minor earthquakes in the region and an increase in elevation where the caldera is located. These are both signs that it is getting moody.
Just to give you an idea what is in store should it decide to blow...
Most people are familiar with the Mt. Saint Helens eruption that happened around 30 years ago. This was a pretty nasty event. It produced massive amounts of ash and was given a VEI of 5. VEI stands for Volcano Explosivity Index. This is a scale similar to the one that rates hurricanes in that each number upwards is 10 times as powerful as the number below it. This scale ranges from 0 to 8. 0 being little more than a fat mans fart after a burrito and beer dinner. 8 being given the name "mega collossal".
Just an FYI, the volcano in Yellowstone will most likely produce one of those. Some say it could produce the biggest eruption... ever. If this happens, unless you live on Mars, you can just bend over and kiss it goodbye.
Sooo...someone bring the marshmallows and I'll bring the beer. If we're gonna fry, might as well be at ground zero, right?
For those that don't know, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has a humungous tub o' lava holding it up. So big in fact that, should it ever get moody, the earth (as in ALL the earth) will be severely affected. So severely in fact that most, even on the other side of the world, will most likely not live through the event.
This 'super' volcano has erupted 3 times in the distant past. The first happened around 2 million years ago, the second around 800k years after that. The third around 600k years after the second. It has now been around 640k years since it's last "attitude adjustment" and some say we are due for another one. The volcano seems to agree.
The folks that watch this kinda thing say that there have been increased minor earthquakes in the region and an increase in elevation where the caldera is located. These are both signs that it is getting moody.
Just to give you an idea what is in store should it decide to blow...
Most people are familiar with the Mt. Saint Helens eruption that happened around 30 years ago. This was a pretty nasty event. It produced massive amounts of ash and was given a VEI of 5. VEI stands for Volcano Explosivity Index. This is a scale similar to the one that rates hurricanes in that each number upwards is 10 times as powerful as the number below it. This scale ranges from 0 to 8. 0 being little more than a fat mans fart after a burrito and beer dinner. 8 being given the name "mega collossal".
Just an FYI, the volcano in Yellowstone will most likely produce one of those. Some say it could produce the biggest eruption... ever. If this happens, unless you live on Mars, you can just bend over and kiss it goodbye.
Sooo...someone bring the marshmallows and I'll bring the beer. If we're gonna fry, might as well be at ground zero, right?