The Q&A at the end of the talk can be found on the original source video (Source URL).Visitors watching an eruption of Old Faithful Geyser from the Old Faithful Inn's balcony.USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answersUSGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answersUSGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answersAerial view of Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National ParkEarthquakes cannot be predicted yet, but modern surveillance conducted with seismographs (instruments that measure earthquake locations and magnitudes) and Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments that measure slow ground movements help scientists understand the state of stress in the Earth's crust. I began covering Silicon Valley for the now defunct Business 2.0 Magazine in 2000, but when the dot-com bubble burst, I found myself manning a public radio station in the Alaskan Bush for three years.
Stovall, W.K., Wilkins, A.M., Mandeville, C.W., and Driedger, C.L., 2016, U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program—Assess, forecast, prepare, engage: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016–3040, 4 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20163040. For example, one widely publicized 2017 There's also been lots of geyser activity at Yellowstone over the last year that breaks with the pattern of recent decades, especially a new period of But the fact remains that none of these actual facts point to an imminent threat of eruption for the Yellowstone Supervolcano or support the notion that one is "overdue. The most recent volcanic eruption at...Yellowstone is underlain by two magma bodies .

For the past decade, I’ve returned to focusing on the world of technology.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.I cover science and innovation and products and policies they create. In the next few hundred years,...Old Faithful Geyser erupts on a clear winter day in Yellowstone National ParkPublic Lecture on Yellowstone Volcano by Jake Lowenstern at Menlo Park, CA on January 23, 2014. I've written e-books on Android and Alaska.I've covered science, technology, the environment and politics for outlets including CNET, PC World, BYTE, Wired, AOL and NPR. The deeper reservoir is composed of basalt...Scientists use the term magma for molten rock that is underground and lava for molten rock that breaks through the Earth's surface. Volcanic eruptions are less likely, but are ultimately...Yellowstone, one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems, has produced several giant volcanic eruptions in the past few million years, as well as many smaller eruptions and steam explosions. In two words, no way.

That being the case, we still have about 100,000 years to go, but this number is based on very little data and so is basically meaningless (would you base any conclusion on the average of just two numbers?). This comes out to an average of about 725,000 years between eruptions. Even so, the math doesn’t work out for the volcano to be “overdue” for an eruption. "In terms of large explosions, Yellowstone has experienced three -- at 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago.

Learn more: Yellowstone Eruption History The evolution of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcani Field: Past, present, and...Since the most recent giant ( caldera-forming ) eruption 631,000 years ago, approximately 80 relatively nonexplosive eruptions have occurred. In terms of large explosions, Yellowstone has experienced three at 2.08, 1.3, and 0.631 million years ago. “For example, given the observation that Yellowstone has a big eruption about every 600,000 to 700,000 years, it is probable that it will have another large eruption in the next 100,000.

"I've covered science, technology, the environment and politics for outlets including CNET, PC World, BYTE, Wired, AOL and NPR. Although no eruptions of lava or volcanic ash have occurred for many thousands of years, future eruptions are likely. Tracking changes in Yellowstone's restless volcanic system; 2004; FS; 100-03; edited by Stauffer, Peter H.
This comes out to an average of about 725,000

Ewert, J.W., Diefenbach, A.K., and Ramsey, D.W., 2018, 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5140, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ sir20185140. Protocols for geologic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory; 2010; CIR; 1351; Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Colorful hot spring in Yellowstone, Wyoming that sits upon a large caldera.It's a favorite worry of the apocalyptically-minded: The "In a word, no.



The most recent took place 640,000 years ago – suggesting Yellowstone is overdue for an eruption. "But even if Yellowstone is still on schedule for its next eruption to take place in the distant future by the numbers, it's a moot point because volcanoes don't keep schedules.The idea of being overdue for a natural disaster might come from the way we think about earthquakes, which are caused by consistently building pressure on a fault that eventually snaps.But, as Poland points out, most volcanoes don't work the same way. Within the next few decades, light-to-moderate earthquakes and steam explosions are certain to occur. Many aspects of our daily life are vulnerable to volcano hazards, ...The Yellowstone Plateau hosts an active volcanic system, with subterranean magma (molten rock), boiling, pressurized waters, and a variety of active faults with significant earthquake hazards. Most volcanic systems that have a supereruption do not have them multiple times. Yellowstone is not overdue for an eruption. In three words, not even close.