Cause of Super Volcano's Found?

[Explorer]

A new theory.

The researchers believe that super-volcanoes only form under specific, rare conditions.

A stretchable halo of rock has to build up above a magma chamber, which can be as large as 10,000 to 15,000 cubic kilometers. The ductile rock keeps stretching into a dome for thousands of years. Pressure keeps building in the magma chamber, until cracks start to form in the dome.

Once one of those cracks causes the dome to collapse, tens of thousands of years of pressure are released, and...

"Huge amounts of material are expelled, devastating the environment and creating a gas cloud that covers the globe for years,"

Read the complete article here:
http://news.discovery.com/earth/supe...nd-111014.html

[Ruby]

I have a theory, but it's religious. So if your not a believer you will probably laugh.

In the bible somewhere, (don't ask me where, I'm not good at remembering where passages are) it says He-- will enlarge it's self. I've always thought that is what caused volcanoes.

[Harry Chickpea]

Mother Earth has zits.

[nadja]

But..... the question here really, is can they fix it ?

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by Ruby

I have a theory, but it's religious. So if your not a believer you will probably laugh.

In the bible somewhere, (don't ask me where, I'm not good at remembering where passages are) it says He-- will enlarge it's self. I've always thought that is what caused volcanoes.

God is the ultimate physicist. Just because something has a natural explanation it doesn't mean that God is not behind it.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by nadja

But..... the question here really, is can they fix it ?

That is the question, and the answer is... No. Don't plan on living forever.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by deaconjim

That is the question, and the answer is... No. Don't plan on living forever.

Yep, according to geologists the thing is ready to pop any day now. Mind you, that "any day" in geological terms spans a time period of a couple hundred thousand years.

My guess on Yellowstone is that there will be increased geological activity for years if not decades or centuries before it happens. Of course since we have only been watching it for 150 years or so we really don't know if current geological activity is "normal" or the precursor to the big event.

[oneokie]

Originally Posted by Explorer

A new theory.

"Huge amounts of material are expelled, devastating the environment and creating a gas cloud that covers the globe for years,"

Does that statement mean the EPA is going to shut down super volcano's?

[machinist]

EPA needs to station most of their people around the caldera and watch it closely, in case it violates any regulations.

[Sawmill Jim]

Originally Posted by machinist

EPA needs to station most of their people around the caldera and watch it closely, in case it violates any regulations.

Then ask for a bail out when their offices get burned up