Yellowstone National Park is home to an active supervolcano that has had three major eruptions in the past 2.1 million years. The most recent eruption occurred about 640,000 years ago, creating a caldera that spans 1,500 square miles. The park’s volcanic activity is monitored by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO), which tracks seismicity, ground deformation, and hydrothermal activity.
Current Status
The current status of the Yellowstone National Park volcano is as follows:
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Volcano Alert Level | NORMAL |
| Aviation Color Code | GREEN |
| Seismicity | 72 located earthquakes in June 2024, with the largest being a magnitude 2.5 event. |
| Ground Deformation | Little deformation in June, likely due to seasonal changes in snowmelt and groundwater conditions. |
| Hydrothermal Activity | Steamboat Geyser did not erupt in June, but minor eruptions suggest a major eruption may occur soon. |
History of Volcanic Activity
Yellowstone National Park has a long history of volcanic activity, with three major eruptions occurring in the past 2.1 million years:
- 2.1 million years ago: The first major eruption occurred, expelling over 1,000 cubic kilometers of magma.
- 1.2 million years ago: The second major eruption occurred, also expelling over 1,000 cubic kilometers of magma.
- 640,000 years ago: The most recent major eruption occurred, creating the caldera that spans 1,500 square miles.
Interesting Facts
Yellowstone National Park is home to a number of interesting facts about its volcanic activity:
- Supervolcano: Yellowstone is classified as a supervolcano due to its massive eruptions, which can expel over 1,000 cubic kilometers of magma.
- Geothermal Features: The park is home to over half the world’s geysers, including Old Faithful, which erupts regularly.
- Monitoring: The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) uses advanced monitoring systems, including seismometers, GPS stations, and infrasound detectors, to track volcanic activity.