Eruption of Yellowstone supervolcano could spell the end of the U.S.: geologists

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/01/yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption-could-spell-the-end-of-the-us-geologists/



Eruption of Yellowstone supervolcano could spell the end of the U.S.: geologists
By Scott Kaufman
Monday, September 1, 2014 9:32 EDT

According to an article published by United States Geological Survey scientist Larry Mastin in the latest edition of Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, an eruption of the supervolcano beneath Yellowstone National Park would blanket much of the United States in a meter of ash.

Mastin and his colleagues used computer modeling to determine the effects of the kind of ash cloud — known as an “umbrella” — the supervolcano would produce. A supereruption would eject 240 cubic miles of material into the atmosphere, which would not only shut down electronic communication and render air travel impossible, it would immediately and dramatically alter climate across the continent.

The supervolcano beneath Yellowstone has produced eruptions of this scale at least three times — once 2.1 million year ago, once 1.3 million, and most recently, 640,00 years ago. Mastin and his team used data on ash distribution from the most recent eruption to calculate the thickness of the ash fall from another potential supereruption, and found that cities close to the supervolcano would be buried beneath more than a meter of ash.

The “umbrella” ash cloud would deposit ash as far away as New York and Los Angeles, but the damage to the central region of the country would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the two coasts to have any meaningful communication with each other.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. We've known this for years, and...

it's has been responsible for major worldwide extinction events.

And it seems just about ready to blow any day now.

The dust cloud it will throw up will take care of the global warming problem, though.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. ...

[ramapo]

3. Mother Earth gets the last laugh

Sooner or later humans will get an unhappy lesson on the extent of power..

[PeoViejo]

4. The Jetstream might determine our fate.

Too bad if it missed the Tar Sands.

[Iliyah]

5. Religious doomsday preppers are ready but not willing

[Enthusiast]

6. The United States should tap into the massive geothermal energy potential of Yellowstone.

Maybe using some of the heat energy available at Yellowstone would even reduce the threat of a massive eruption. Just speculation.