Scientists are closely monitoring Yellowstone National Park’s supervolcano, but they emphasize that there’s no cause for concern at present. According to a recent study published in Nature, the western part of the Yellowstone caldera, the giant volcanic crater created by the last eruption 640,000 years ago, is now “waning.”
The Yellowstone caldera, which spans an area of approximately 30 by 45 miles, is home to the park’s famous geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, and mud pots. While the region remains volcanically active, scientists say the future of volcanic activity appears focused on the northeastern part of the park. However, they assure the public that an eruption is not likely anytime soon.
“The volcanic system is not capable of producing a catastrophic eruption like in the past,” said Ninfa Bennington, a volcano geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Yellowstone’s geothermal activity, such as its boiling mud pots and erupting geysers, continues due to underground magma reservoirs, which remain extremely hot, with temperatures ranging between 1,247°F and 2,512°F. These massive reservoirs, which lie 2½ to 30 miles beneath the surface, are part of Yellowstone’s vast volcanic system.
Recent advancements in imaging techniques, such as magnetotellurics, have allowed scientists to map these magma reservoirs more precisely. These maps reveal a complex network of magma pockets, with deeper reservoirs in the northeast leading to shallower ones near the surface, which are connected to the park’s hydrothermal systems. However, these magma reservoirs are not connected enough to trigger a single explosive eruption, as they remain separate.
Despite the dramatic history of past super-eruptions at Yellowstone, which occurred approximately every 600,000 to 800,000 years, scientists believe the system is not ready for another major eruption. For that to happen, the magma reservoirs would need to fill certain spaces in the Earth’s crust to a critical level. Currently, this process is not occurring.
While there’s no immediate threat, scientists will continue to monitor the situation and study the region’s geothermal activity.
