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Yellowstone Caldera Study Reveals New Magma Insights
Yellowstone National Park, home to the Yellowstone Caldera, a globally significant supervolcano, is under renewed scrutiny following a discovery by US Geological Survey (USGS) scientists. Researchers have detected indications of rhyolitic volcanism in the northeast portion of the caldera. The Yellowstone Supervolcano, recognized for its immense size and potential for large-scale eruptions, remains a key focus for geological research aimed at understanding volcanic processes.
Advanced Geophysical Study of Yellowstone Caldera
In a collaborative effort with experts from Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the USGS team utilized an advanced electromagnetic geophysical technique to probe the subsurface beneath the Yellowstone caldera. Their investigative approach involved conducting a comprehensive magnetotelluric survey across the entire caldera. This specialized method measures electromagnetic properties influenced by variations in Earth’s magnetic field, allowing scientists to infer the electrical conductivity structure of the Earth’s crust and identify subsurface magma reservoirs.
Magma Reservoirs Beneath Yellowstone Revealed
The findings, published in Nature, indicated the presence of at least seven distinct magma regions situated beneath the caldera. These magma bodies, some interconnected, are located at depths ranging from approximately 2.4 to 29 miles, extending close to the mantle boundary.
Analysis of the data revealed that the most active magma storage areas are concentrated in the northeastern sections of the caldera.
These prominent magma deposits exhibit a composition of basaltic magma in their deeper sections, transitioning to rhyolitic magma in the upper portions.
Volume of Magma Estimated
Researchers successfully estimated the volume of melt material within these reservoirs, calculating an accumulation of approximately 388 to 489 cubic kilometers. This volume is notably larger than the melt quantities observed in the southern, western, and northern areas of the caldera, regions previously associated with more frequent eruptions.
Yellowstone’s Eruptive History
Prior scientific investigations have established that the supervolcano has experienced three major caldera-forming eruptions over the past 2.1 million years. The most recent volcanic activity was a lava flow event around 70,000 years ago. Predicting the timing of the next significant Yellowstone eruption remains a complex scientific challenge.
Challenges in Yellowstone Magma Research
Earlier attempts to precisely ascertain the composition and volume of material beneath the Yellowstone caldera have encountered difficulties, yielding inconsistent results attributed to the extreme subsurface conditions. This new research provides a more refined understanding of the intricate magma system underlying this significant volcanic region.