The Ground Over Is Rising - Is It Going to Erupt?

It is widely known that Yellowstone National Park is situated above a massive super volcano, which explains the presence of powerful geysers and hot springs in the area. However, beneath Yellowstone lies an enormous magma chamber. In 2015, researchers from the University of Utah discovered that this chamber was even larger than previously believed. They also identified an additional reservoir of magma beneath the main one. Together, these two reservoirs hold a significant amount of magma, equivalent to filling the Grand Canyon not once, but 11 times.

One concerning aspect of these magma chambers is that they exert pressure on the ground above them, causing Yellowstone to rise by about 1 to 2 inches per year. Additionally, Yellowstone is classified as an active volcano, with a volcanic explosivity index of 8 out of 8. This high rating indicates that if Yellowstone were to erupt, it would be a catastrophic event. To put it into perspective, the eruption of Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, which is considered one of the most powerful eruptions in recent history, was given a rating of 6 on the volcanic explosivity index.

Now, let's assess whether there is any cause for concern. In March 2023, the seismograph stations at the University of Utah recorded 354 earthquakes in the entire Yellowstone National Park region. While this may sound like a significant number, it is important to note that the most notable event of the month was a minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7. This earthquake was part of a swarm of 106 earthquakes that occurred from March 29th until the end of the month. It appears that earthquakes can also occur in clusters.

Experts assure us that Yellowstone's seismic activity is slightly higher than usual, but there is no need for alarm. Michael Poland, a geophysicist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, states that the volcano is not likely to erupt anytime soon. For an eruption to occur, there must be a sufficient amount of magma ready to erupt beneath the surface. Additionally, there should be other indicators of an imminent eruption.