Will Yellowstone's Massive Volcano Erupt Again in Our Lifetime?

[Myriad209]

Does anyone have any idea about when it might erupt again?

I'd like to be prepared since the magma chamber of this thing will prolly wipe out the entire earth.

 

[matthyaouw]

In a word- no. http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/faqsfactivity.html#eruptagain

 

[Garlic Bread?]

It will go bang one day - could be thousands of years yet, or next year, but it won't wipe out the Earth! It's effects, if it goes in a big way, will be world-wide, that's for sure. The Earth will probably cool and crops will fail, causing death for millions. But, hey, everything will come back again within a decade.

 

[matthyaouw]

The last supervolcanic eruption to take place was the Toba eruption of indonesia. Some believe this had a huge effect on human evolution and life at the time. Saying everything will be back in a decade may be a little optemistic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toba_catastrophe_theory
http://www.jqjacobs.net/anthro/paleo/bottleneck.html

 

[Garlic Bread?]

Oi - always look on the bright side of life!

 

[hypatia]

As a precaution, we should fill out pockets with jam, cause we're going to be toast.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Ah, cheer up, something else is almost certain to kill you before Yellowstone does.

 

[Astral Rob]

The Discovery Channel had a recent program about the super volcano under Yellow Stone. The records showed a massive eruption occurred every few hundered thousand years. While we know it will happen again, we have no clear way of determening when. In fact, due to the plates shifting, it is believed there is the possibility that by the next eruption will not take place under Yellow Stone, but under the Rocky Mountains. An eruption occurring with the Rockies on top of the magma chamber would likely mean we wouldn't feel the devistating effects of such a chaotic event, according to the Discovery program anyway.

Still, if an eruption did occur humanity would be in for a Hell of a ride.

 

[Myriad209]

I think we're all forgetting the fact that by the time Yellowstone does go boom, we will be masters of space and time and have unlimited technological boundaries, also the we may have accidentally destroyed the Earth by then.

 

[Ouabache]

Discovery Channel has been airing the Super Volcano show a number of times over the years. (I recall taping it 4 yrs ago) They like to sensationalize mega-disaster imagery to try and flip us out. I've often seen it paired with another armageddon scenario Mega-Tsunamis.

The US Geological Survey published their thoughts about Yellowstone Caldera

The current rates of seismicity, ground deformation, and hydrothermal activity at Yellowstone, although high by most geologic standards, are probably typical of long time periods between eruptions and therefore not a reason for immediate concern. Potentially damaging earthquakes are likely to continue occurring every few decades, as they have in the recent past. Eventually Yellowstone will erupt again, but there is no indication that an eruption is imminent or what kind of eruption may come next.

 

[Badass]

Hi all I'm very new to this site and it's just the place for me as I love science. I to share concerns over the supervolcano, but realize there will be something beneficial from it. Life can start from a fresh again. I know it will be hard on nature but nature will probably survive better than us. I have a little saying, "For a every negative there's a positve" and basically it means there an advantage to many negative situations. And of course vice versa.