Super Volcano Will Challenge Civilization, Geologists Warn

SPACE.com ^ | March 8, 2005 | Robert Roy Britt

[Strategerist]

Volcanic eruptions frequently eject debris with such force that prevailing air currents have little initial bearing on the distribution pattern. In particular if the volcanic eruption is asymmetrical (as Mount St. Helens was, by example) then the resulting ash zone can easily end up extending completely against the wind direction.

If you're talking about airborne ash, the above is absolute, complete nonsense.

The surface pyroclastic flow (mud, boulders, etc.) of St. Helens extended to the North, as the lateral blast was to the north.

But the Ash fall of St. Helens from the fine ash directed upwards was completely controlled by wind direction at the time of the eruption, as it is for every single volcano in the world.

[massgopguy]

OH MY GOD! THERE'S A BIG BALL OF FIRE IN THE SKY AND IT'S NUCLEAR! ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

[Loud Mime]

I have many friends who live in Cody, just a few miles downwind from the Volcano. They all know that they are goners if that thing ever pops; the remote risk of that eruption is a small price to pay for living in such a beautiful area.

[bert]

I opened my motel room door one morning in Cody and there was a fox in the adjacent field. beautiful sight

[Mr. Lucky]

The scientists this week called for more funding...

One has to labor all the way to the penulitmate paragraph to discover the real purpose to the story.

[AntiGuv]

Well, I was actually talking about all of it, but my impression was that heavier particulates fell out of the plume swiftly more or less in the direction that they were blasted, while lighter particulates billowed into a vertical plume then subject to wind currents. Perhaps I'm wrong.

[AaronInCarolina]

I once saw Mighty Mouse fly around Krakatoa, creating a knot with his contrails and tying up the exploding volcano. So don't tell me there's nothing we can do about it.

Here I am to save the day!!!!

(If you are not familiar with Mighty Mouse, you will not understand the above!!)

[AntiGuv]

Hey, I found a link that outlines Tephra Fallout and Ash Cloud Mechanics far more accurately than my vague recall of Geology 101.

[monday]

"Cept build nuke power plants and warm your toes on an electric heater next to your hydroponic vegetables."

I expect it would affect us less than the doomsters predict too, although it certainly wouldn't be business as usual.

[OB1kNOb]

I wonder of I should I still make plans to go to Floriduh for Spring Break? The map shows this not affecting them.

[Iscool]

The eruption of a super volcano "sooner or later" will chill the planet and threaten human civilization, British scientists warned Tuesday.

When the sun burns out, which it will "sooner or later", there could be a serious shortage of flashlight batteries...(Now where do I go to get my paycheck for enlightening the world of this impending disaster?)

[AaronInCarolina]

...and there was a fox in the adjacent field.

Just how attractive was this young lady???

[ex-Texan]

More Reports on the Yellowstone Supervolcano

Hit the graphic image:

Many believe that cycical Sun activity and geomagnetic storms may be triggering earthquakes, volcanic activity and magma unrest deep in our planet. The weather may be changing but it is folly to believe that driving cars to work is causing global warming and/or global cooling. Our Sun may release more energy in fifteen minutes that all the motor vehicles on earth do in a year. Want proof? Just walk outside on a sunny day.

But nobody listens to me anyway. I'm just an old geezer living in The Peoples' Republic of Oregon.

[monday]

"That's settled. On to the next story."

Well you could stockpile food and supplies in a shelter if you wanted to. Can't stop it but you could make sure you survive it.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I opened my motel room door one morning in Cody and there was a fox in the adjacent field. beautiful sight

I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.

[saminfl]

"And now the bad news: There's not much anyone can do about it."

We humans can cause the ozone hole and global warming. therefore, we can surely do something about it. /sarcasm

[Kretek]

I think this particular announcment may have more to do with the upcoming BBC docudrama about such a supervolcano explosion in Yellowstone actually taking place. It was supposed to have aired already, but they delayed it because they thought the Tsunami coverage would make their movie look fake.

Do you know what it's called, and whether it'll be shown on BBC America or something else (maybe PBS) here in the States?

[Nick Danger]

Half the United States will be covered in ash up to 3 feet deep

This will happen the day after president Hillary announces the nationwide smoking ban.

[Carry_Okie]

Thanks!

[bert]

for those of you who came in late.... see #63