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| Yellowstone Super Volcano | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 12 2005, 11:25 AM (328 Views) | |
| gvok | Apr 12 2005, 11:25 AM Post #1 |
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Unregistered
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I saw part of a show on the Discovery Science Channel last night about how Yellowstone National park is actually an active "super-volcano" which, if it errupted, would kill off most of the life on earth. It made me a little nervous to watch and I was trying to go to sleep so I turned it off. Does anyone know anything about this? How realistic is this scenario? |
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| Dr. Noah | Apr 12 2005, 11:38 AM Post #2 |
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Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
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I read something about it in National Geographic. The entire area of Yellowstone is one huge volcano filled in after it's last eruption 6000 odd years ago. The pressure is said to continuously build for another one, but this could be averted theoretically by putting in an artificial pressure valve (perhaps some form of geothermal energy production! ) here's a link: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...ellowstone.html |
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| gvok | Apr 12 2005, 11:44 AM Post #3 |
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Thanks for the link Sisknoah. |
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| Dr. Noah | Apr 13 2005, 09:36 AM Post #4 |
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Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
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No sweat. Other odd volcanic phenomenon in the United States includes Lake Tahoe which was once a huge volcano, later covered in an ice sheet and melted off to create a huge, very deep lake. Also, if anyone gets the chance, check out Devil's Tower. It's way out in the middle of nowhere (somewhere in Northern Wyoming/Southern Montana I think) been a while since I was there, anyway, it's an eruption of magma that shot straight into the air some 10,000 years ago and cooled quickly giving it the appearance of a large pillar of rock. Geologists are still puzzled over how this could've naturally occurred. (cue X-files theme) |
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| gvok | Apr 13 2005, 10:04 AM Post #5 |
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Devil's Tower was featured prominently in "Close Encounters". |
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| Dr. Noah | Apr 13 2005, 10:06 AM Post #6 |
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Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
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There was also a very realistic model constructed of mashed potatoes in that movie as well.
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| gvok | Apr 13 2005, 10:06 AM Post #7 |
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| somerled | Apr 17 2005, 07:40 AM Post #8 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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Supervolcano was on tonight, the dramatisation tends to trivialise the event - I think. I can understand how people who live in the USA might be very disturbed by the show. Another reason why I am glad I DON"T live in the USA. |
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| digifan2004 | Apr 17 2005, 11:01 AM Post #9 |
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Electronic genius
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IMO I think the scientists are over reacting. CIP - Take a look at the Mount Saint Helen's erruption. The erruption disrupted the entire Spokan-Washington area. Many lives were affected but nature had found ways to recover. Same scenario applies here. Modern jet engines and avionic control systems are designed to withinstand extreme conditions including travelling through an ash cloud. Givem the proper conditions I think the people can and will survive this worst case scenario. |
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| Sophie | Apr 17 2005, 05:17 PM Post #10 |
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Keeper of the spider-cats
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Yellowstone is a supervolcano?
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| somerled | Apr 17 2005, 08:28 PM Post #11 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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I'm not so sure about that. Imagine 10 or 20 Krakatoas happening in one after another or all at once and you might get the picture. Mt.St Helens was nothing compared with Krakatoa. (Explosive powerwise, what did the most damage at Mt.St.Helens was the paraclastic flows when one side of the volcanoe collapsed. |
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| 3 of 7 | May 3 2005, 06:08 AM Post #12 |
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Watch out, or I'll assimilate you!!!
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^ True, the scientist are not overreacting! after all, the human population on the entire planet was almost wiped out the last time a super volcano errupted! (And if I recall correct, that super volcano was not as big as Yellowstone!)
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| Swidden | May 3 2005, 06:19 PM Post #13 |
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
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We're pretty lucky that we have not had such an event in quite some time and that the last truly significant impact was probably Tunguska. However, it has lead to a sense of complacency. We're still more worried about what we're doing to nature and less worried about what nature can aribtrarily do to us... |
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| psyfi | May 4 2005, 09:02 AM Post #14 |
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psyfi
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I saw that supervolcano special also. HORRIFYING! It seems to be that not being in the U.S. would only delay the inevitable for the rest of the world. |
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| somerled | May 10 2005, 06:29 AM Post #15 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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Latest Assessment - Yellowstone Rated High for Eruption Threat But don't panic just yet. |
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) here's a link:
(And if I recall correct, that super volcano was not as big as Yellowstone!)
1:55 PM Jul 11