Yellowstone Supervolcano Could Erupt Sooner Than Expected

By Sheanne Aguila, Christian Post Contributor Friday, October 13, 2017

It may take only decades before the supervolcano sitting beneath Yellowstone National Park rumbles to life.

Geologists had initially thought it would take centuries for composition to build up in the Yellowstone supervolcano. However, researchers studying the area recently found out that it could start erupting sooner than expected.

According to National Georgraphic, a research conducted by scientists from the Arizona State University revealed the supervolcano woke up right after fresh magma flowed into its 40-mile-wide caldera. The findings were based on fossilized ash from the supervolcano's most recent mega-eruption approximately 630,000 years ago.

A previous eruption happened 1.3 million years ago, roughly the same timeframe before that, which means the volcano may have another explosion anytime soon. The news causes alarm because one eruption from the supervolcano could wipe out life on Earth.

While there will be devastating consequences if the supervolcano were to erupt, researchers claim there is no reason to worry yet.

The timeline shows temperatures surrounding the volcano increased over decades, instead of the centuries that scientists thought it would take before the volcano makes that kind of transition.

"It's shocking how little time is required to take a volcanic system from being quiet and sitting there to the edge of an eruption," the study's co-author Hannah Shamloo told the New York Times. She also mentioned that more work needs to be done before researchers can give a precise timeframe.

Supervolcano eruptions pose a much bigger danger to life on Earth than any asteroid, according to NASA. With roughly 20 so-called supervolcanos scattered around the world, NASA has devised a plan that could help neutralize supervolcano eruptions. The project could cost around $3.4 billion and it involves drilling a hole over 6 miles into the volcano to release heat. While it could be a great source of geothermal energy, it also has considerable risks, as the process could trigger the eruption it's meant to save humanity from.