What would happen if the Yellowstone Volcano erupts?

The Yellowstone Caldera, also known as the supervolcano, is a gigantic volcanic caldera spanning approximately 55 x 72 kilometers. It is located in northeastern Wyoming, United States.

This volcanic region is subject to constant seismic activity. In August 2021, a study revealed that more than a thousand seismic events were recorded in Yellowstone Park, where the supervolcano is located.

What happens if it erupts?

The volcano is considerably large compared to others, and in the event of an eruption, it could trigger catastrophic events that would endanger both the environment and thousands of people.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano could trigger an ash rain that would cover the entire country for decades, drastically altering climate conditions.

States closest to the volcano, such as Utah, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, would suffer the greatest impact, with devastating pyroclastic flows ravaging their territories. In addition to the ash covering the entire United States, vegetation and fauna could face mass extinction due to the toxicity of the air.

Has the Yellowstone volcano erupted yet?

Official data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reveals that the Yellowstone supervolcano has experienced large-scale eruptions in the past, which had profound and long-lasting consequences for the global ecosystem. These historic eruptions were accompanied by intense ash rains that affected vast areas and altered the Earth’s climate.

The most recent eruption of Yellowstone occurred approximately 70,000 years ago. This volcanic event was characterized by the emission of rhyolitic lava flows, which are highly viscous and can travel relatively short distances but cause enormous damage. The activity associated with this eruption had a significant impact on the geography and ecological environment of the region, leaving obvious traces in the landscape and contributing to the formation of the volcano’s current caldera.