The Yellowstone caldera, located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, has been subject to extensive research on volcanism, including studies of earthquakes, volcanic hazards, and hydrothermal explosions. The studies of previous supereruptions are facilitated by the fact that most of the known volcanism in the Yellowstone caldera is a fairly recent phenomenon. Due to the rigorous nature of eruptions, especially, in the last 2.1 million years, the entire volcanic field of Yellowstone is often placed within the category of ‘supervolcano’. It should be noted, however, that the latter is a rather vague concept that can hardly be defined in clear terms. (Morgan, Shanks & Pierce, 2009)
The volcanism of Yellowstone has not been limited to supereruptions. Since the last occurrence of characteristic supervolcano activity, there have been both instances of less massive explosions and non-explosive eruptions of lava. Moreover, a considerable part of academic research is now focusing on the study of the geothermal activity caused by the proximity of a large cove of magma to the caldera’s surface. The rich volcanic history within the Yellowstone National Park is the root cause of the unique modern landscape of the site. (Morgan, Shanks & Pierce, 2009)
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A study by Watts, Binderman, and Schmitt focuses on determining whether the Yellowstone volcanic site is now in its dying cycle or, alternatively, if there is a possibility of an emerging magma chamber. The methodology and the procedure of the research are based on U–Th zircon ages and d18O values determined by ion microprobe, and sanidine Pb isotope ratios determined by laser ablation. The researches report the finding of new data used in the study, including discovered lava flows, an explosive tuff, and small-volume rhyolite lavas. The authors note that some of the data were gathered by previous research and clearly distinguish their new findings. They use a Finnigan Neptune MC-ICP-MS laser ablation system as well as SHRIMP-RG ion microprobe, for the analyses of the samples from the site. (Watts, Bindeman & Schmitt, 2012)
Similarly, a paper by Girard and Stix looks into possible volcanism scenarios at the Yellowstone caldera in the future. Their methodology combines tools from quartz petrography, geochemistry, and geobarometry. The researchers investigated Central Plateau Member lavas by the recourse to laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry that allowed for achieving measurements for Ti in quartz. The study was equipped by TitaniQ titanium-in-quartz geobarometer for the investigation of depths of formation of the quartz crystals. Additionally, the authors examined the distribution of the eruptive vents of rhyolites of the site in comparison with their alignment to active regional faults. (Girard & Stix, 2012)
As a result, the first research study provides an insight into the evolution of magma in the Yellowstone volcanic site. The major finding is that despite the existence of several tracks of rhyolite genesis, the evolution of volcanism is complete in Yellowstone. According to the paper, the current developments on the site clearly point out to the dying cycle of volcanism. (Watts, Bindeman & Schmitt, 2012)
Similarly to the first paper, the study by Girard and Stix comes to the conclusion that the reservoir is not in an eruptible condition. However, the findings do account for episodical activities of magmatism on the site. Moreover, the researchers note that their paper is most useful for determining the most likely locations of future eruptions if they were to happen. Unlike the first paper, the study by Girard and Stix also predicts the most probable type of future volcanism: “large rhyolitic lava flows and/or pyroclastic eruptions […] as well as phreatomagmatic eruptions”. (Girard & Stix, 2012)
While both papers prove to be extremely insightful as to the current condition of volcanism in the Yellowstone caldera, the second paper provided more data on the probability and peculiarities of future eruptions on the site. The first study focuses on confirming the dying cycle of the Yellowstone volcanism, while the second one present more compelling evidence by accounting for the possibility of further developments and describing their features.
- Watts, K., Bindeman, I., & Schmitt, A. (2012). Crystal scale anatomy of a dying supervolcano: an isotope and geochronology study of individual phenocrysts from voluminous rhyolites of the Yellowstone caldera. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 164(1), 45-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-012-0724-x
- Girard, G., & Stix, J. (2012). Future volcanism at Yellowstone caldera: Insights from geochemistry of young volcanic units and monitoring of volcanic unrest. GSA Today, 4-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/gsatg143a.1
- Morgan, L., Shanks, W., & Pierce, K. (2009). Hydrothermal processes above the Yellowstone magma chamber. Boulder, Colo.: Geological Society of America.
