James Stewart

Presumably one day, even if that's in thousands of years, one of these supervolcanoes will erupt catastrophically again. And in the meantime, there are other supervolcanoes to consider. Apart from Taupo and Toba, the supervolcanoes known to have hosted eruptions rating 8 on the VEI scale are clustered in the Andes of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, and in the western half of North America.

Volcanoes associated with the Andean volcanic complex show signs of unrest. Swelling ground suggests a filling magma chamber, for example. But not on a scale that makes geologists think that a super eruption is imminent.

Volcanoes associated with the Andean volcanic complex show signs of unrest. Swelling ground suggests a filling magma chamber, for example. But not on a scale that makes geologists think that a super eruption is imminent.

Volcanoes associated with the Andean volcanic complex show signs of unrest. Swelling ground suggests a filling magma chamber, for example. But not on a scale that makes geologists think that a super eruption is imminent.

The eruptions in North America all originated in a volcanically active region known as the Yellowstone Hotspot, which is one of the most intensively monitored volcanic sites on Earth.

The eruptions in North America all originated in a volcanically active region known as the Yellowstone Hotspot, which is one of the most intensively monitored volcanic sites on Earth.

The eruptions in North America all originated in a volcanically active region known as the Yellowstone Hotspot, which is one of the most intensively monitored volcanic sites on Earth.

The geology of the region is complex, and geologists don't know whether the source of the magma is a plume originating deep in the Earth, or a piece of the ocean crust that's been forced under the North American continent.

The geology of the region is complex, and geologists don't know whether the source of the magma is a plume originating deep in the Earth, or a piece of the ocean crust that's been forced under the North American continent.

The geology of the region is complex, and geologists don't know whether the source of the magma is a plume originating deep in the Earth, or a piece of the ocean crust that's been forced under the North American continent.

Whatever the origin of the magma, the Yellowstone hotspot is thought to have hosted six VEI-8 eruptions in the last 10 million years, the last one being approximately 640,000 years ago. These eruptions formed the Yellowstone caldera, now at the centre of Yellowstone National Park.

Whatever the origin of the magma, the Yellowstone hotspot is thought to have hosted six VEI-8 eruptions in the last 10 million years, the last one being approximately 640,000 years ago. These eruptions formed the Yellowstone caldera, now at the centre of Yellowstone National Park.

Whatever the origin of the magma, the Yellowstone hotspot is thought to have hosted six VEI-8 eruptions in the last 10 million years, the last one being approximately 640,000 years ago. These eruptions formed the Yellowstone caldera, now at the centre of Yellowstone National Park.

If the supervolcano were to erupt similarly today, it would devastate the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana with red-hot clouds of rock, ash and gas moving at hundreds of kilometres per hour. Further from the site, ash would be deposited in a thick blanket, disrupting travel and collapsing the roofs of buildings.

If the supervolcano were to erupt similarly today, it would devastate the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana with red-hot clouds of rock, ash and gas moving at hundreds of kilometres per hour. Further from the site, ash would be deposited in a thick blanket, disrupting travel and collapsing the roofs of buildings.

If the supervolcano were to erupt similarly today, it would devastate the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana with red-hot clouds of rock, ash and gas moving at hundreds of kilometres per hour. Further from the site, ash would be deposited in a thick blanket, disrupting travel and collapsing the roofs of buildings.

and the climatic effect of airborne ash and sulphates would likely be pronounced cooling of the sort thought to have occurred after the Toba eruption 74,000 years ago, which might have lowered temperatures by several degrees Celsius across much of the world.

and the climatic effect of airborne ash and sulphates would likely be pronounced cooling of the sort thought to have occurred after the Toba eruption 74,000 years ago, which might have lowered temperatures by several degrees Celsius across much of the world.

and the climatic effect of airborne ash and sulphates would likely be pronounced cooling of the sort thought to have occurred after the Toba eruption 74,000 years ago, which might have lowered temperatures by several degrees Celsius across much of the world.

Because of this threat, and because of the region's long history of activity, scientists continually observed the Yellowstone volcano for signs of ground deformation, earthquakes and volcanic gases, which could indicate magma on the move. The problem is the Yellowstone region is so active that such occurrences are almost constant.