Yellowstone Volcano: How Geologists Observed "SWARM Earthquake" | Science | New

The Yellowstone volcano erupted three times – 2.1 million years ago, 1.3 million years ago and 630,000 years ago. Jacob Lowenstein of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has unveiled the first geological exploration of Yellowstone National Park. During their stay, the group experienced a "swarm of earthquakes" that shook the trees and the ground beneath them.

In 1871, Ferdinand Vanderveer Hayden led a team of 50 passionate geologists during the first exploration of Yellowstone Volcano.

Mr. Lowenstein revealed how the team gathered information about the supervolcan.

He said in 2014: "Ferdinand Hayden was one of the leaders of the expedition that took place in Yellowstone.

"This group finally launched the US Geological Survey about ten years later.

"Hayden brought William Henry Jackson – a photographer – and Thomas Moran – a painter.

"They collected samples, they documented what they saw and they did it both by photography and by painting.

"They were sent back to Washington and played a key role in the congressional decision to make Yellowstone a national park."

Mr. Lowenstein also revealed how Mr. Hayden realized that it was a volcanic area.

He added: "He recognized that it was a volcanic area and he understood that it was not too long in the geological past of the activity.

"He said a little older than he is in reality and he also acknowledged that hot springs and water were related to the volcanic system.

"He and his colleagues camped on the north side of Yellowstone Lake and they experienced another remarkable thing we know about Yellowstone: there are a lot of earthquakes.

"They lived what we now call a swarm of earthquakes, where they were awakened in the middle of the night by a series of shocks that shook the trees."

The revelation came after Lowenstein's colleague and chief scientist Mike Poland warned of a NASA plan.

The space agency has proposed a concept to drill in the hydrothermal system and cool the volcano.

The idea could apparently "save the world" and cost around £ 2.7 billion.

However, Mr Poland did not support it.

He said in 2018: "It is not planned to do it, it was simply a plan in the concept.

"But there is no drilling project in Yellowstone and I can not imagine that it's ever allowed because it's a national park.

"It would not have the desired effect either – it's not even a good idea."

Mr. Poland went on to say that drilling could also spoil the natural beauty of Yellowstone.

He added, "This would have the potential disadvantages of affecting all the natural elements of Yellowstone.

"In other parts of the world where geothermal wells have been drilled near geysers, the activity has been completely reduced.

"So, it's unlikely to happen."

Recently, the potential for Yellowstone for the public has again raised concerns.

However, Mr Poland has closed these requests at a weekly update from the USGS.

The scientist said, "We have heard many statements that Yellowstone is long overdue – a major eruption occurs every 600,000 years on average and since the last eruption 631,000 years ago, you can see where this is happening. past.

"In a word, no, in two words, no question, in three words, not even close, Yellowstone does not work like that.

Calculating that Yellowstone bursts around every 600,000 years has led many to claim that the supervolcan was "late".

However, Dr. Poland argued flightcanoes do not behave in this way and, therefore, there is no indicator that Yellowstone is about to burst again.

The scientist explained, "This equates to about 725,000 years on average between eruptions.

"That being the case, we have about 100,000 years left, but this figure is based on very little data and therefore does not make sense. Do you want to base a conclusion on an average of only two digits ?.

"However, the fact is that if someone, an article or a documentary says that Yellowstone bursts every 600,000 years, you know from the outset that there is a lot of craziness."