The 16 Ma Yellowstone hotspot track is one of the few places on Earth where time-transgressive processes on continental crust can be observed in the volcanic and tectonic . This would be a calamity reaching far beyond the western United States. Only by diligently monitoring seismic activity around the park will scientists have a clue as to when it's coming. Produced under a Cooperative Agreement for earth science education between the National Park Service's Geologic Resources Division and the American Geosciences Institute. Heres how it works. The Yellowstone region, at 8,000 feet (2,500 meters) elevation, is about 2,000 to 3,000 feet (600 to 1,000 meters) higher than the surrounding territory. Are the Least Social Animals the Most Innovative? 88. Kings Bowl and Wapi lava fields formed about 2.250ka. This vast volcanism resulted from the rise of hot material from deep within Earths mantle. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210107164748.htm (accessed May 1, 2023). [5], Volcanism at Yellowstone is relatively recent, with calderas created by large eruptions that took place 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago. Yellowstone hotspot (? The organization defines an IUGS Geological Heritage Site as 'a key place with geological elements and/or processes of international scientific relevance, used as a reference, and/or with a substantial contribution to the development of geological sciences through history. Scientists have identified a number of current and past hotspots believed to have begun this way. The Henry's Fork caldera is in an area called Island Park. Therefore, we targeted the Yellowstone hotspot track in the United States because it is one of the best-preserved intraplate large igneous provinces, where time-transgressive magmatism (due to 2 cm/yr plate motion; Armstrong et al., 1975; Anders et al., 2019) allows study of the temporal relationships among magma production, residence . See the typical status of major parking areas across the park. The lowest is at the base of the crust, retaining a low-silica (basalt/gabbro) composition. Discovery of two new super-eruptions from the Yellowstone hotspot track A bow-wave or parabola-shaped zone of mountains (browns and tans) and earthquakes (red dots) surrounds the low elevations (greens) of the seismically quiet Snake River Plain. New . The Yellowstone hotspot, also referred to as the Snake River Plain-Yellowstone hotspot, is a volcanic hotspot responsible for large scale volcanism in Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming, United States. Most are relatively minor, measuring a magnitude of 3 or weaker. This enormous volcanic island chain, much of which is underwater, stretches across the Pacific for almost 6,000 km. The rich yellow and orange colors around many hot springs are microscopic thermophilesspecial forms of life that survive at very high temperatures. [21][22], In respect of it being 'well-known for its past explosive volcanic eruptions and lava flows as well for its world class hydrothermal system', the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) included 'The Yellowstone volcanic and hydrothermal system' in its assemblage of 100 'geological heritage sites' around the world in a listing published in October 2022. GPS Coordinates - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Ji, Y. A deep mantle . Three distinct types of hotspots in the Earths mantle. Yellowstone National Park is a dazzling display of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and other hydrothermal features. Illustrations above modified from Beauty from the Beast: Plate Tectonics and the Landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, by Robert J. Lillie, Wells Creek Publishers, 92 pp., 2015, www.amazon.com/dp/1512211893. 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