While many of us are aware of the natural marvels of
Yellowstone above ground such as the waterfalls, forests, and geysers, many are
unaware of what is really occurring beneath the grounds of this famous national
park. The famous sights above
ground often are key to indicating what is really going on underneath the earth’s
surface, for example, the famous Old Faithful. Rainwater fills the underground
chamber and rocks underneath the surface heat this water. When the heat is too
much, the water bursts out causing a change in pressure and steam. Old Faithful
shows us above ground just how hot the rocks underneath are. In Yellowstone Lake,
geysers explode underwater. These geysers indicate a volcano underground, one
that that has erupted in the past.
Evidence of ash found all over the US and obsidian rock in
Meadow Creek indicate that previous eruptions were extremely large. More
frequent earthquakes, raises in ground level, and historical timing indicate
that Yellowstone could erupt very soon, but the side or magnitude of this
eruption is unknown. I believe that it is incredible that things occurring above
ground can provide evidence for scientists looking to understand what is occurring
above ground. It is said that Yellowstone is a National Park because of it
geology. Based on the information provided in this documentary, I would have to
agree that it is a very defining element of the park.
Below are notes taken on the video:
Earth is 4.5 billion years old
· Yellowstone one of the most active places
o 5000 earthquakes per year
· one of the most dangerous but amazing places
· 1st national park because of geology
· Old Faithful
o Clue to what is underneath
o SW of park
o Display every 90 mins
o Rainwater fills underground chamber
o Hot rocks heat water
o Water bursts out, change in pressure
o Steam blasts
o Shows that the rocks are extremely hot
· Indian Ponds
o Boulder built from individual grains of sand
o Chemicals and pressure hold it together
o Believed to have come from a geyser
· Yellowstone lake
o Geysers exploding underwater
o Underwater vents – pump out heat and gases
o Gases the same that come out of the volcano
o Quarts crystals found her are evidence that there is a volcano underneath
· Study geological past to try and determine when the volcano will erupt underground
o NA used to live in this area
o Historical accounts and stories told of geysers and hot springs
· Where is the volcano?
o Lodge Poll Pines – thrive on soil from lava – Rhyolite
o Mosquitoes – indicate presence of Rhyolite
§ Creates water filled with craters
§ Good from mosquito breeding
· Meadow Creek
o Thin layer of black rock
o Obsidians
o Rocks came out of volcano
· Must have been a “Super-Eruption”
o So big it blew volcano to pieces
o Ash spread for miles
o Park located inside on of the larges volcano craters on Earth
o Only found this out in the late 60s
o In California – ash found underneath soil that matched Yellowstone ash
o Ash found all over US
o Confirms the large size of this volcano
o “Super Volcano”
· Lava flow
o Some covered by soil and trees
o Other lava created countryside
· Earthquakes
o Seismic waves go through rock and detect hot rock
o Size of magma pot changes
o More advanced equipment
§ Shows large volcanic pipe
§ 400 mi or more
§ 2x distance WA to NY
· Similar large eruptions happened many times before
o Other chains of craters from other eruptions
o Hot spot traveled hundreds of miles
o Plotting earthquakes wraps around hot spot locations in a V-shape
o American continent moving and pushing new land over hot spot
o Only hot spot on continent
· When will Yellowstone erupt again?
o Ash spread over all of US
o Thousands will die because they will be covered in debris
o Look at previous eruptions to determine when it will again
o Normally occur every 600,000 years
o Last one was 640,000 years ago
o Warning signs
§ Usually 12 tremors a day -> since 2009 4x as many s
§ Ground seems to be rising
· While it may have another catastrophic eruption, we do know its magnitude
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