Yellowstone hotspot
Introduction
The Yellowstone hotspot is a volcanic hotspot in the United States responsible for large scale volcanic events in the Idaho and Wyoming regions. The hotspot's existence became apparent with the discovery of the Yellowstone Caldera, a large volcanic caldera located in Yellowstone National Park.
Geological Background
The Yellowstone hotspot is located in the North American Plate, one of the several large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move around the globe. The hotspot itself is stationary, while the North American Plate moves over it. This movement has resulted in a series of volcanic eruptions over millions of years, creating a track of extinct volcanoes and calderas stretching from Nevada, through Idaho, and finally to Wyoming.
Volcanic Activity
The Yellowstone hotspot is responsible for one of the world's largest known volcanic fields, spanning an area of approximately 300 kilometers. The hotspot's activity is characterized by three major explosive eruptions that occurred 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 630,000 years ago, respectively. These eruptions were approximately 6,000, 700, and 2,500 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, respectively.
Yellowstone Caldera
The most recent of the three major eruptions created the Yellowstone Caldera, a volcanic feature measuring 55 kilometers by 80 kilometers. The caldera is home to thousands of geothermal features including geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles. The most famous of these is the Old Faithful geyser.
Future Eruptions
While the Yellowstone hotspot is currently active, it does not pose an immediate threat of a supereruption. Scientists predict that future eruptions are likely to be lava flow events rather than explosive eruptions. However, the hotspot is monitored closely by the United States Geological Survey for any signs of significant activity.