Great question. Yellowstone has had 3 recorded supervolcano eruptions: 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago. The average time between these is then roughly 725,000 years. If you extrapolate that, it will be over 100,000 years until the next scheduled eruption.
However, supervolcanoes are very unpredictable and historically don’t involve systems that erupt periodically or even more than once.
Yellowstone is unpredictable and many scientists aren’t convinced that it will inevitably erupt again. The hotspot remains active (small explosions, geysers, moderate-sized earthquakes, influx of magma into the underlying chamber, etc.) and another eruption is possible, but by no means expected or “due” as many people claim.
Very informative! Thanks, Jacob. In three weeks I and my wife will be spending a few weeks at YNP/GT and from decades of visits can attest we've always known about the thermal activity around Norris basin but NEVER about the threat posed by the Teton fault! Makes me look at that beautiful range in a whole new light!
Thank you, Michael! I must admit, I've been through the parks many times myself as well and never knew about the threat either until recently. I knew about the swarms and Quake Lake but wasn't very familiar with the Teton fault. I'm glad you appreciated my article and that you'll enjoy it more, even though you've been! Those parks are amazing and a real treat to visit. My wife and I actually plan to be there in about a month as well!
What’s the current thinking on a major volcanic eruption.
Great question. Yellowstone has had 3 recorded supervolcano eruptions: 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago. The average time between these is then roughly 725,000 years. If you extrapolate that, it will be over 100,000 years until the next scheduled eruption.
However, supervolcanoes are very unpredictable and historically don’t involve systems that erupt periodically or even more than once.
Yellowstone is unpredictable and many scientists aren’t convinced that it will inevitably erupt again. The hotspot remains active (small explosions, geysers, moderate-sized earthquakes, influx of magma into the underlying chamber, etc.) and another eruption is possible, but by no means expected or “due” as many people claim.
Very informative! Thanks, Jacob. In three weeks I and my wife will be spending a few weeks at YNP/GT and from decades of visits can attest we've always known about the thermal activity around Norris basin but NEVER about the threat posed by the Teton fault! Makes me look at that beautiful range in a whole new light!
Thank you, Michael! I must admit, I've been through the parks many times myself as well and never knew about the threat either until recently. I knew about the swarms and Quake Lake but wasn't very familiar with the Teton fault. I'm glad you appreciated my article and that you'll enjoy it more, even though you've been! Those parks are amazing and a real treat to visit. My wife and I actually plan to be there in about a month as well!