James Stewart

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.

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.

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.

And because nobody has ever actually witnessed the buildup to a super volcanic eruption, we can't be absolutely sure what we should expect to see before it blows. Based on the average times between the last few eruptions of the Yellowstone volcano, the chance of an eruption occurring there in any given year has been estimated at one in 730,000. But that's not really how volcanoes work.

And because nobody has ever actually witnessed the buildup to a super volcanic eruption, we can't be absolutely sure what we should expect to see before it blows. Based on the average times between the last few eruptions of the Yellowstone volcano, the chance of an eruption occurring there in any given year has been estimated at one in 730,000. But that's not really how volcanoes work.

And because nobody has ever actually witnessed the buildup to a super volcanic eruption, we can't be absolutely sure what we should expect to see before it blows. Based on the average times between the last few eruptions of the Yellowstone volcano, the chance of an eruption occurring there in any given year has been estimated at one in 730,000. But that's not really how volcanoes work.

They don't hold to schedules like that, so it would be inaccurate to say whether an eruption is due or not. Still, geologists monitoring the Yellowstone supervolcano are confident that there are currently no signs that magma is accumulating in a large enough quantity to feed such an eruption at any time soon.

They don't hold to schedules like that, so it would be inaccurate to say whether an eruption is due or not. Still, geologists monitoring the Yellowstone supervolcano are confident that there are currently no signs that magma is accumulating in a large enough quantity to feed such an eruption at any time soon.