Yellowstone National Park - Volcano

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Yellowstone National Park

Volcano Questions & Answers

wstone National Park - Volcano Questions & Answers (U.S. Nationa... http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/volcanoqa.htm

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Q: How imminent is an eruption of the Yellowstone Volcano?

A: There is no evidence that a catastrophic eruption at Yellowstone National Park(YNP) is imminent. Current geologic activity at Yellowstone has remained relativelyconstant since earth scientists first started monitoring some 30 years ago. Thoughanother caldera-forming eruption is theoretically possible, it is very unlikely to occur inthe next thousand or even 10,000 years. Scientists have also found no indication of animminent smaller eruption of lava.

Q: How much advance notice would there be of an eruption?

A: The science of forecasting a volcanic eruption has significantly advanced over thepast 25 years. Most scientists think that the buildup preceding a catastrophic eruptionwould be detectable for weeks and perhaps months to years. Precursors to volcaniceruptions include strong earthquake swarms and rapid ground deformation andtypically take place days to weeks before an actual eruption. Scientists at theYellowstone Volcano Observatory* (YVO) closely monitor the Yellowstone region forsuch precursors. They expect that the buildup to larger eruptions would includeintense precursory activity (far exceeding background levels) at multiple spots withinthe Yellowstone volcano. As at many caldera systems around the world, smallearthquakes, ground uplift and subsidence, and gas releases at Yellowstone arecommonplace events and do not reflect impending eruptions.

*The YVO is a collaborative effort between the US Geological Survey, the University of Utah, and YNP to monitor and study the Yellowstone Volcano. Congress has given theUSGS the responsibility of volcano hazard assessment, and YNP assists the USGS intheir volcano monitoring effort.

Q: In regard to volcanic activity, is it safe to visit Yellowstone?A: Yes. Scientists do not have any indication of an imminent eruption, or any eruption,at this time.

Q: What is park staff doing to monitor and assess the probability of aneruption?

A: The YVO maintains an array of instruments that monitor activities at Yellowstonearound the clock. In addition, YVO scientists collaborate with scientists from all overthe world to study and assess the hazards of the Yellowstone volcano. To learn more

about Yellowstone's volcanic past and to view current data about earthquakes, groundmovement, and stream flow, visit the YVO website at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/ .

Q: When will the volcano erupt again? Will there be any warning? How muchwarning will there be?

A: The science of forecasting a volcanic eruption has significantly advanced over thepast 25 years. Most scientists think that the buildup preceding a catastrophic eruptionwould be detectable for weeks and perhaps months to years. Precursors to volcaniceruptions include strong earthquake swarms and rapid ground deformation and


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typically take place days to weeks before an actual eruption. Scientists at the YVOclosely monitor the Yellowstone region for such precursors. They expect that thebuildup to larger eruptions would include intense precursory activity (far exceedingbackground levels) at multiple spots within the Yellowstone volcano. As at manycaldera systems around the world, small earthquakes, ground uplift and subsidence,and gas releases at Yellowstone are commonplace events and do not reflectimpending eruptions.

Q: Is the volcano dormant or extinct or still active?

A: The Yellowstone Volcano is still active. Evidence for the activity of the YellowstoneVolcano are the 1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes per year, active ground deformation, andthe over 10,000 thermal features found in Yellowstone.

Q: What is Yellowstone doing to prevent an eruption?

A: Nothing can be done to prevent an eruption. The temperatures, pressures, physicalcharacteristics of partially molten rock, and the immensity of the magma chamber arebeyond man's ability to influence--much less control.

Q: How will the park get the word out if there is an eruption?

A: The park would communicate accurate and timely information to park visitors, parkemployees, concessioners, surrounding communities, media outlets, and otherinterested parties through the park's 24-hour Communications Center; news releases;established emergency response programs; and through notification of appropriateinteragency, state and local government agencies.

Q: Where would it be safe to be during an eruption?

A: For the most likely type of volcanic eruption in Yellowstone, everywhere would besafe except in the immediate vicinity of the advancing lava flow. In the highlyimprobable event of a large catastrophic eruption, the greater the distance from theeruptive center, the safer it would be. It is impossible to know the effects of theeruption without guessing at the explosivity of the highly unlikely eruption and thetotal amount of the material erupted.

Q: Would the public know about a possible eruption?

A: Yes. Scientists continuously monitor volcano activity in Yellowstone and share thatinformation through news releases, web sites, etc. Current real-time-monitoring dataare online at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/monitoring.html .

Q: If Old Faithful quits erupting, is that a sign the volcano is about to erupt?

A: Geysers are natural phenomena and as such, their behavior is unpredictable andsubject to unexpected changes. Old Faithful is unique in that its eruptions have beenfrequent and relatively consistent during the last century or so of observations. Weexpect Old Faithful to change in response to the ongoing geologic processesassociated with mineral deposition and earthquakes. Thus, a change in Old Faithful


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Geyser's eruptions will not necessarily indicate a change in volcanic activity.

Did You Know?The 1988 fires affected 793,880 acres or 36 percent of the park. Five fires burned intothe park that year from adjacent public lands. The largest, the North Fork Fire, started

from a discarded cigarette. It burned more than 410,000 acres.

Last Updated: March 06, 2008 at 16:02 EST


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Yellowstone National Park - Volcano

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