Yellowstone volcano’s last three major eruptions went off 640,000, 1.2 million and 2.1 million years ago. Because of the volcano’s seemingly clockwork-like eruption cycle, many people believe the US supervolcano is due another cataclysmic blast. When Yellowstone last erupted – an event known as the Lava Creek eruption – the volcano covered an estimated 2,900 square miles (7,500 square km) with fallout.
A similar eruption today would very likely disrupt the agriculture industries, disrupt food networks and push people towards starvation.
Some volcanologists have even proposed another super-eruption could disrupt global weather patterns and trigger a nuclear winter of sorts.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said: “If another large, caldera-forming eruption were to occur at Yellowstone, its effects would be worldwide.”
The immediate danger would be in the areas closest to the supervolcano.
READ MORE: What would happen if Yellowstone volcano erupted?
But the ash fallout from Yellowstone would travel far and wide, decreasing the further out from the volcano it is.
As a result, many people worry about the possibility of Yellowstone erupting again within our lifetime.
One Twitter user said: “I wake up every day so afraid that Yellowstone is gonna erupt.”
Another person said: “What’s something people don’t worry about but really should?
“Yellowstone volcano that can erupt anytime and will surely kill us all.”
Is Yellowstone volcano overdue another eruption?
The good news is, Yellowstone volcano is not overdue another mega blast.
Geologists are not even convinced the supervolcano has the power for another super-eruption.
The USGS said: “Volcanoes do not work in predictable ways and their eruptions do not follow predictable schedules.
“Even so, the math doesn’t work out for the volcano to be ‘overdue’ for an eruption.
“In terms of large explosions, Yellowstone has experienced three at 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago.”
The three events point to an average 725,000 years between eruptions.
If that is the case, Yellowstone is still some 100,000 years away from another major blast.
However, most volcanic systems do not follow tight schedules and multiple eruptions are not evenly spaced out in time.
The USGS said: “Although another catastrophic eruption at Yellowstone is possible, scientists are not convinced that one will ever happen.
“The rhyolite magma chamber beneath Yellowstone is only five to 15 percent molten – the rest is solidified but still hot – so it is unclear if there is even enough magma beneath the caldera to feed an eruption.”