Quakes feed fears of Yellowstone eruption

[maseman]

Source: MSNBC/AP

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Run for your lives ... Yellowstone's going to explode!

Hundreds of small earthquakes at Yellowstone National Park in recent weeks have been an unsettling reminder for some people that underneath the park's famous geysers and majestic scenery lurks one of the world's biggest volcanoes.

(snip)

Earthquakes are hardly unusual in Yellowstone. Hundreds occur in the park every year. Earthquake "swarms" like the recent activity also aren't uncommon, although the 900 or so quakes that began Dec. 26 and significantly tapered off about a week later appear to have been the most energetic swarm in more than 20 years.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28591072

[GentryDixon]

1. I hope this soon calms without incident.

I grew up at the foot of the Teton's and the Yellowstone area. My ancestor's were some of the settler's of Kelly WY, just outside of Grand Teton Park. Such a beautiful area.

We took my in-laws (from North Carolina) on a visit to Yellowstone in the early 90's. They had never seen anything like it, and my father-in-law still talks about it today.

Some of my Dad's ashes are scattered up the Gros Ventre River at my Aunt Mable's (1905-2000) hunting camp. My Dad grew up at her knee and the one place he dearly loved was the hunting camp. President Reagan granted her ownership of this hunting site until her death, when it then converted to the park service.

[Fearless]

2. Probably nothing to be worried about.

Geologically the earth doesn't give a damn about "20 years" or so.

[liberal N proud]

3. It will be interesting to see the effect on the thermal features

I so need to get back to Yellowstone. I have missed it since 1999

[Mojorabbit]

4. A new batch

of small quakes started yesterday after it had calmed down. I am keeping an eye on it but it is last on my list of things to worry about just now. What is worrisome is most are under the lake where there is a dome that has been rising over the years.

[Ediacara]

5. USGS and YVO call bullshit

She’s not gonna blow!

By KARIN RONNOW Chronicle Staff Writer

The U.S. Geological Service is adamantly denying rumors that a recent “swarm” of earthquakes in Yellowstone National Park have prompted an evacuation order for the greater Yellowstone area.

“The USGS is not recommending the evacuation of the park,” according to a statement from Jessica Robertson at the USGS office in Arlington, Va.

Furthermore, she wrote, “The USGS is not affiliated with a Web site that recommends evacuation of Yellowstone National Park and bears the USGS logo.”

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/01/09/news/10not%20gonna%20blow.txt

[hedgehog]

6. But, but but - the USGS is in on the plot to downplay and conceal any

information about a coming huge eruption because...... well, I don't know why but isn't it true that all government agencies are involved in some sort of vast conspiracy?

[Ediacara]

7. Because the total destruction of the nation's infrastructure will severly reduce USGS funding...

... and that's exactly what they want at the USGS.

Wait a minute..... :-)

[iamthebandfanman]

8. i dunno about conspiracys but

why would they tell you something awful was going to happen that they had no control over? why create panic if theres nothing that can be done?

you realise if yellow stone did have an eruption it would likely be massive in size and effect almost everyone in the united states and beyond that the entire globe.

[hedgehog]

9. But, in the case of total global annihilation, would it make any difference whether

we panic first or not? At least in case of a panic, someone somewhere will enjoy breaking out that bottle of wine they're saving for a special occasion....



UNLESS......


All the big politicians are scurrying away to mountain redoubts with hundreds of beautiful women so they can repopulate the globe after the disaster....

[iamthebandfanman]

11. depends on what type of person you are?

perhaps youd like to break open a bottle of drinks
and perhaps the guy down the street would like to break open a bottle of rape every woman he sees.

[SpookyCat]

15. Well, I won't deny them my company...

but I will deny them my essence...

[Ptah]

17. The experts disagree with your assertion.

You: "you realise if yellow stone did have an eruption it would
likely be massive in size and effect almost everyone in the
united states and beyond that the entire globe."

From:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28591072

Hank Heasler (US National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park)

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Jake Lowenstern


Eruption would be 'surprising'
Heasler said the odds of a cataclysmic eruption at Yellowstone any time soon
are astonishingly remote — about the same as a large meteorite hitting the Earth.
The last such eruption occurred 640,000 years ago. The last eruption of any kind at
Yellowstone was a much smaller lava flow about 70,000 years ago.

"Statistically, it would be surprising to see an eruption the next hundred years,"
Lowenstern said.

Much more likely, he said, would be a hydrothermal explosion in which underground
water encounters a hot spot and blasts through the surface. Small hydrothermal
explosions producing craters a few feet wide occur in Yellowstone perhaps once or
twice a year. Large hydrothermal explosions leaving craters the size of a
football field occur every 200 years or so, according to a 2007 paper co-authored
by Heasler, Lowenstern and others.

[shadowknows69]

10. If it goes, the only place to run will be your bathroom to take your final shit.

[hedgehog]

12. That reminds me- does anyone know what the movie is tonight on the Sci Fi Channel?

:o

[iamthebandfanman]

14. except this WILL happen eventually

and it doesnt need cheesey graphics and bad acting.



like any volcano, its only a matter of time.

[iamthebandfanman]

13. to all the people laughing at this

i suggest you look into it before making it a joke..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVQt_G4RxXQ


the discovery channel did a big program on the likelihood of an eruption at yellowstone and its impact.

[and-justice-for-all]

16. tic, toc, tick, toc, tic, toc.....

it will erupt someday...nt