Yellowstone - A Ticking Time-Bomb?
For those of us who were fortunate enough to catch Discovery Channel's latest spine-gripping, docudrama, SuperVolcano this past weekend, we were made aware of the chance that Yellowstone National Park's Super Volcano could be a literal, explosive and catastrophic time bomb.
Though many common, external traits of volcanos are viewed as Mountainous peaks and regions like that of Mount St. Helens Yellowstone's 'supervolcano' is unique. It is one of the world's largest active volcanic systems. In the last few million years, it has spawned several, massive volcanic eruptions; and relatively, it is likely to occur again. Because of its possible danger, the US Geological Survey, the University of Utah and the Yellowstone National Park combined forces to create the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory This observatory keeps a vigilant watch of regional activity.
Mesmerizing
Yellowstone's effervescent hot springs and magical geysers woo visitors by the millions every year. Unwittingly, most of these spectators have no clue as to how these natural wonders come to surface. Merely miles beneath them, brews a huge reservoir of an estimated 1,475-degree Fahrenheit, magma that fuels heat to produce these wondrous spectacles.
Meanwhile, its breathtaking scenery and natural wildlife illudes patrons of its below-ground, boiling carnage.
Destructive
If and when Yellowstone blows, it could possibly emit massive volumes of magma that would evolve into a Pyroclastic Flow. This flow would catapult in multiple directions, causing the ground to collapse, and create large volcanic calderas
Based on the film, worst-case scenerio would prove cataclysmic. Not only would nearly everything in its deadly path be destroyed, but its treachery would amiss worldwide in large-scale environmental hazards.
In all of its awesome and hypnotic beauty, Yellowstone typically incurs anywhere between one to three-thousand earthquakes annually. Though scientists lay claim that renewed volcanic activities will more than likely be nonexplosive lava eruptions, Yellowstone has had several, lethal volcanic events. Its last catastropic eruption occurred 640,000 years ago. To date, modern science cannot reliably make accurate predictions of when another cataclysimic event will inevitably occur at Yellowstone.
In a race against time and eruption-cycle averages, one can only hope that FEMA and other worldwide organizations will come up with life-preserving measures that will, at least, keep the spark of life alive on planet Earth should such a cataclysmic eruption happen.
Would you like to add your thoughts and opinions to this segment? Feel free to interact with Holistic Junction's forum on Yellowstone by going to our Home Page and clicking on the hot topic forum thread: Yellowstone - A Ticking Time-Bomb?
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Yellowstone - A Ticking Time-Bomb?
Copyright 2005 - All Rights Reserved
by C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
About the Author
C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director &
Staff Writer
Holistic Junction
Media Positve Radio