Yellowstone Case Study

Was a national park full of hot springs and lakes full of sulpher.

Scientists noticed lots of volcanic activity and found out that it was actually the crater of a super volcano. 

The magma chamber is belived to be 80km long, 40km wide and 8km deep!

Evidence shows that the magma below Yellowstone is shifting.

Signs of increasing activity at Norris, the ground has risen by almost a metre in some places!

There is a 1 in 600,000 chance of an eruption

If it exploded the sun would black-out for 30 years

Which would mean that natural farming and solar energy would be imposible

The sky would turn red from sulphur 

There would be no electricity no fresh water

Hospitals would eventually run out of power 

Temputure drops by 20°C

Super Volcano : a mega colossal volcano that erupts at least 1000km³ of material

Caldera: the depression of the volcano marking the collapsed magma chamber

Fissures - extending openings along a line of weakness that allows magma to escape

Geothermal : water that is heated beneath the ground which comes to the surface in a variety of ways.

Geyser: a geothermal feature in which water erupts into the air under pressure.

Hot Spot : a section of the earth's crust where plumes of magma rise, weakening the crust. These are away from plate boundaries.