The Yellowstone Supervolcano

The first 200 words of this essay...

The Yellowstone Supervolcano

By Daniel Goode

What is the Present Volcanic Activity in the Region?

There are often large amounts of volcanic activity surrounding the Yellowstone Supervolcano; in the month of September 2010, 52 earthquakes were recorded, the greatest reaching a magnitude of 2.4. Small earthquakes are common in the Yellowstone region. Starting in 2004, there has been a period of accelerated uplift of the Yellowstone caldera, however this has now decreased.

What are the Present Land Uses that an Eruption Might Affect?

Many land uses essential to human (and indeed animal) life would be impossible throughout the world-but especially in America and Europe- if the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted. Many deaths would be caused mainly by ash; inhalation of ash would kill and sicken humans and animals, crush buildings (30cm is sufficient to collapse a roof), machinery-such as air filters- would be clogged, and crops and other vegetation would die. There are also several environmental factors to take into account; probably the most prominent would be the global decrease in temperature, which would in some places drop by 12oC and would last for up to ten years. More hazards and dangers caused by the eruption