How deep would the ash be if Yellowstone erupted?
Based on a recent study by members of the U.S. Geological Survey using a model called Ash3D, a Yellowstone eruption could dump from 40 to 70 inches of ash on Billings — more than 3 to 5 feet.
How deep is the lava under Yellowstone?
How large is the magma chamber that is currently under Yellowstone? The magma chamber is believed to be about 40 by 80 kilometers across, similar in size to the overlying Yellowstone caldera. The top of the chamber is about 8 km deep and the bottom is around 16 km deep.
Would Yellowstone cover the world in ash?
USGS hydrologist Larry Mastin presented the study to the public in 2016, outlining the dangers bubbling beneath the surface of Yellowstone National Park. Looking at wind simulations during a three-day eruption of volcanic material, the study found the ash cloud would cover much of the North American continent.
How deep is the supervolcano in Yellowstone?
The huge crater, known as a caldera, measured as much as 80 kilometers long, 65 kilometers wide, and hundreds of meters deep, extending from outside of Yellowstone National Park into the central area of the Park (see map in question above for location information).
Who will be affected if Yellowstone erupts?
Those parts of the surrounding states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming that are closest to Yellowstone would be affected by pyroclastic flows, while other places in the United States would be impacted by falling ash (the amount of ash would decrease with distance from the eruption site).
How big was the ash fall from the Yellowstone eruption?
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for major eruptions from Long Valley Caldera, Mount St. Helens and Yellowstone. (Public domain.) The topic of Yellowstone supereruptions (ones producing greater than one thousand cubic kilometers of volcanic debris) generates much interest, but also occasional confusion.
How to model the distribution of Yellowstone ash?
The distribution of deposits from ancient Yellowstone eruptions can be compared with the output from the computer models. For additional information, read the entire article published in the scientific journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. The following FAQ adds background and context to this research study.
What kind of lava would come out of Yellowstone?
(Public domain.) The most likely type of volcanic eruption at Yellowstone would produce lava flows of either rhyolite or basalt; rhyolitic lava eruptions could also include explosive phases that might produce significant volumes of volcanic ash and pumice.
Where does the ash fall from Mt St Helens?
Map of the known ash -fall boundaries for major eruptions from Long Valley Caldera, Mount St. Helens and Yellowstone. (Public domain.)