Yellow Stone Flashcards
What type of volcano is Yellowstone
A super volcano
What is a super volcano and how is it formed?
It is a depression in the ground called a caldera.
It forms when a it spot produces a fume of magma which is trapped beneath the earths crust and forms a giant magma chamber. As it does so the ground underneath begins to bulge. As the pressure reaches breaking point the ground ruptures producing a huge eruption. As the pressure is released and the chamber empties the ground above it sinks down forming a caldera.
How much magma roughly would yellow stone produce
More than 1000cubic km (VEI 8)
What would be the effects on the USA (4)
3/4 of the USA could be covered with ash
within 1000km of the blast, 90% of the population may be killed
Increased rainfall at trigger increased mudslides
Buildings would collapse due to ash falling on them
What would be the effects worldwide? (3)
Food supplies would be reduced
Sulphur gas would form sulphuric acid aerosols which would decrease the temperature by around 12c
Acid rain could kill off up to 75% of plant species
Why do people visit yellowstone?
To see the hot springs, mud pools and geysers