Yellowstone Officials Warn The Public: ''Evacuate Now Before Its Too Late''

that's a super volcano that is a continent killer and it blows every 6 to 800,000 years and everyone dies Yellowstone National Park the US Geological Survey shared its monthly report on earthquake activity Monday it says seismologists reported more than a thousand minor Quakes around Yellowstone last month largest earthquake ever recorded in the Rocky Mountains it happened just west of Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park a sanctuary for geysers hot springs and beautiful scenery has a secret it rests on a dormant super [Music] volcano super volcano would kill almost all of us the Yellowstone super volcano it's a Cera [Music] volcano recent earthquake swarms have raised concerns prompting us to investigate the Park's fiery past and the possibility of a future eruption when we think of Yello National Park we think of Yogi Bear we think of Old Faithful but underneath that park there is a ticking Time Bomb somewhere in like the 2000s I think it was they did satellite imagery and they realized oh my God that's the Caldera of a volcano like this Yellowstone thing again here tonight with a sleeping Giants an ancient super volcano [Music] it's starting Yellowstone's volcanic nature is familiar news exploring the region in 1870 Lieutenant gustavis D recognized the absence of mountains and suspected a colossal crater lay beneath he was right Yellowstone is the world's largest active Caldera a vast depression formed by past eruptions super volcanoes are a different breed all together they unleash cataclysmic explosions ejecting hundreds of cubic miles of Ash and magma the last Yellowstone eruption 640,000 years ago dwarfed Mount St Helen's 1980 eruption a thousandfold the western United States was covered in Ash and the terrain was ravaged by pyroclastic flows which are very hot dense AV lanches of rock gas and Ash these cataclysmic events leave scars the surface manifestations of the heat boiling underneath are the Park's geothermal wonders which include mud pots hot springs and geysers the Eerie moonscapes of the Snake River plain a series of gigantic calderas stretching across Idaho Oregon and Nevada our Testaments to past Super eruptions earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in Yellowstone averaging 1,000 to 3,000 annually nevertheless these tremors are a critical Factor they keep the parks plumbing system flowing preventing geysers and Hot Springs from going dormant the 1959 heban Lake earthquake a horrific 7.5 magnitude occurrence is a harsh reminder of the Park's explosive character even though most are ignored it resulted in extensive damage Dam collapses and landslides that killed 28 people recent earthquake swarms have fueled anxieties about an impending Yellowstone super eruption while these swarms are common scientists emphasize that they don't necessarily predict a major eruption the vast monitoring system in place constantly tracks earthquakes and helps us understand the subsurface geology the Yellowstone super volcano has remained relatively quiet during the last 70,000 years it is unclear if if it will erupt again or when the next eruption might be a modest one providing little Hazard however while a catastrophic eruption is unlikely in the immediate future it cannot be completely ruled out though not a super volcano event the hunga Tonga eruption of 2022 highlighted the power of volcanic activity this underwater eruption surprised scientists with its unprecedented lightning display showcasing the comple Le Lex and often unpredictable nature of volcanoes understanding volcanic lightning could prove crucial in eruption forecasting real-time data from such phenomena can help scientists make informed decisions about public safety and evacuations Yellowstone's fiery past continues to shape the present its future remains uncertain but ongoing research helps us prepare for potential dangers while the park Beauty and geothermal wonders enthrall us it's vital to remember the sleeping giant beneath our feet meaning cauldron in Spanish a Caldera is a vast depression formed by a series of super volcanic eruptions over millions of years Yellowstone's fiery history stretches back 18 million years with the hotspot responsible for its creation pushing relentlessly Southwest beneath the tectonic plate the evidence of this fiery past is scattered across the landscape the Eerie desolate moonscapes of the Snake River plain a series of gigantic calderas stretching across Idaho Oregon and Nevada are a stark reminder of these ancient eruptions these calderas were formed by the collapse of the ground following the expulsion of massive amounts of magma the subsequent lava flows further reshaped the landscape earthquakes are common in Yellowstone with an average of 1,000 to 3,000 Tremors happening annually While most are minor and go unnoticed they play a vital role these earthquakes act like a natural plumbing system preventing geysers and Hot Springs from becoming dormant by keeping the channels that carry hot water open Yellowstone's dynamic character is demonstrated by the horrific 7.5 magnitude heban Lake earthquake of 1959 this earthquake caused extensive damage including landslides and Dam breaches and it left a long long lasting scar on the terrain Yellowstone is located within the Intermountain seismic belt a region notorious for seismic activity earthquakes here can be felt across a vast area encompassing Montana Wyoming Idaho Utah Nevada and AR these tremors are often a result of a combination of tectonic forces the movement of the Earth's plates and volcanic activity the energy released during these earthquakes travels as seismic waves causing the ground to shake despite the potential dangers these earthquakes also have a positive impact keeping the hydrothermal system active ensures the continued existence of Yellowstone's iconic geysers and hot springs without the periodic shaking mineral deposits would eventually seal off the tiny fissures and conduits that bring hot water to the surface thankfully most earthquakes are below a magnitude of 3.0 which is undetectable by humans only earthquakes wakes exceeding 4.0 can damage structures while ground ruptures typically occur at magnitudes above 6.5 major earthquakes in Yellowstone are thankfully rare but they do happen a sobering reminder of the possible outcomes is provided by the heban lake earthquake this terrible incident which was the second largest earthquake to strike the US mainland in the 20th century left extensive damage in its wake and unfortunately took the lives of 28 people just Beyond the Horizon from Highway 287 lies the heban dam a towering structure completed in 1914 it holds back the vibrant Blue Waters of the Madison River a Haven for fly fishermen before a devastating earthquake in 1959 the river flowed freely from the dam carving its path through a secluded Canyon in the Madison range the valley teamed with life with dense forests clinging to the rocky slopes and the Madison River cascading towards the expansive valley below nestled at the foot of the canyon was Rock Creek Campground a popular resting spot for tourists embarking on adventures in Yellowstone National Park the first Tremor was a jolt barely lasting a minute a 20ft chunk of soil tore along a fault line leaving a stark vertical scar behind the result was scary a short while afterward a massive port portion of the North Face of the Canyon's Hillside collapsed trees were uprooted and boulders weighing thousands of pounds were hurled into a chaotic frenzy as the Avalanche roared down the valley floor a new and terrifying reality emerged several miles down stream from the heban dam the cascading debris formed a Natural Dam at the base of the canyon effectively blocking the flow of the Madison River the trapped water surged back engulfing trees campsites and everything in its path this watery grave became known as earthquake Lake meanwhile the heban dam itself faced a precarious situation large waves known as sies slammed against the structure raising concerns about a potential collapse Panic gripped the region mirroring the rising water levels of earthquake Lake families fled through the darkness Desperately Seeking Higher Ground as the newly formed Lakes swallowed their campsites and cars trapped Souls screamed for help amidst the rising water the long terrifying night eventually gave way to a grim Dawn the true scale of the disaster began to unfold the final count revealed a devastating toll 28 lives were lost with 19 more believed to be buried beneath the Avalanche debris officials evacuated hundreds of survivors from elevated points of Refuge the days that followed were a blur of activity damaged roads and bridges were rebuilt debris was painstakingly cleared and much of the roadway was reopened within a few days the heban dam thankfully held strong after repairs were completed Yellowstone National Park itself wasn't spared thermal features including the iconic Old Faithful Geyser experienced changes before the earthquake Old Faithful erupted Faithfully every 65 minutes on average in the years that follow followed this interval stretched to 74 minutes other geothermal wonders like Sapphire pool in the biscuit Basin were awakened from dorcy Once a relatively quiet hot spring Sapphire pool began erupting violently reaching Heights of over 200 ft these eruptions however proved destructive obliterating the very biscuit-like formations that gave the Basin its name the earthquake's impact extended beyond the immediate devastation Steamboat geyser the world's tallest located in Norris geyser Basin stirred from a 50-year slumber just 3 years later in 1961 from Highway 287 there is a clear reminder of that terrible night a monument to the might of nature the once verdant Hills are now a desolate scar at the bottom of earthquake Lake the trees that formerly bordered the Madison River now stand skeleton and drenched an eerie reminder of of the past while the 1959 heban Lake earthquake Remains The most significant in Yellowstone since the early 1980s a vast geological monitoring system is now in place constantly vigilant for any future Tremors while tourists may be blissfully unaware earthquake swarms are a common occurrence in Yellowstone National Park seismologists from the University of Utah who maintain a network of 26 seismographic stations across the park regularly detect these concentrated bursts of Tremors sometimes exceeding 100 in a single day these swarms primarily occurring between Old Faithful and West Yellowstone help scientists gain valuable insights into the Park's subsurface geology Yellowstone's fiery past is marked by three colossal super eruptions the most recent happening 640,000 years ago this eruption dwarfed Mount St Helen 1980 eruption in scale by a thousandfold with the ash column reaching a staggering 100,000 ft and blanketing a vast area from the Western us to the Gulf of Mexico but the true Devastation unfolded on the ground superheated pyroclastic flows dense Avalanches of Ash Rock and gas swept across the landscape leaving a path of Destruction hundreds of feet wide these violent events left Al lasting Mark a crater the size of Rhode Island formed 2.1 million years ago followed by another significant eruption 1.3 million years later The Fallout wasn't limited to the immediate vicinity volcanic gases and aerosols released into the atmosphere could have triggered Global volcanic Winters periods of significant cooling that may have drastically impacted early humans some scientists even believe our DNA holds Clues to a super eruption in Indonesia 74,000 years ago which may have caused a worldwide population bottleneck despite their destructive nature super volcanoes have also shaped the Yellowstone landscape we see today erosion glaciers and minor eruptions the most recent 70,000 years ago have filled the Yellowstone Caldera with lava flows and Ash the scars however are mostly hidden beneath tranquil forests the Park's famous Lodgepole Pines thrive in the nutrient Rich volcanic soil and the river's Bountiful trout population is supported by geothermal activity half of the world's geysers reside in Yellowstone constantly changing in temperature and behavior with new vents occasionally erupting and spewing Vapors that can even be deadly Yellowstone's volcanic past remained largely unexplored for decades after initial studies in the late 1800s however A Renewed focus in the late 1950s led to groundbreaking discoveries Francis Joe Boyd a doctoral student at Harvard identified welded toughs a Telltale sign of past pyroclastic flows further Studies by Bob Christensen and his colleagues revealed three distinct welded tough layers each corresponding to a separate super eruption that left behind massive calderas the most recent eruption even obscured the remnants of the earlier ones the story continues to unfold in 1973 Bob Smith discovered oddly positioned trees along the shore of Yellowstone Lake suggesting a recent change in water levels these ongoing investigations paint a vivid picture of Yellowstone's Dynamic past and the ever evolving geothermal forces that continue to shape this remarkable landscape in 1923 Park Personnel began placing benchmarks along roadways throughout the Park decades later a curious observation emerged intrigued by the geology of the region Robert Smith chose to return to these markers his measurements revealed a disturbing Trend the ground in the northern part of the Caldera specifically Jackson Hole located on top of the Caldera north of Yellowstone Lake had risen by around 30 in however the water level of the lake itself remained unchanged it was as if the northern section of the Caldera floor had risen displacing the water Southward this shift was a clear sign of movement within the Earth the Yellowstone Caldera was alive Smith published his findings in 1979 igniting renewed interest in Yellowstone's volcanic past he vividly described the Caldera as a living breathing entity further Evidence came in 1985 heralded by a swarm of mostly minor earthquakes the land then began to subside again Smith updated his metaphor Yellowstone was now the living breathing shaking Caldera since then Smith and his colleagues have relentlessly pursued a deeper understanding of What Lies Beneath the Park's Surface by analyzing how earthquake generated sound waves travel through different Rock densities scientists were able to map the vast plume of hot rock feeding the Yellowstone magma chamber this plume originates from the Earth's upper mantle and tilts downward to the Northwest as the plume grows it injects heat into the magma chamber causing the ground to rise however small earthquakes also release hydrothermal fluids reducing pressure within the chamber and leading to subsidence in the 10 years that followed the 1985 earthquake swarm Yellowstone dropped 8 in not that the fidgety giant was finished some parts of the Caldera have been rising quickly since 2004 near nearly 3 in a year the fastest uplift seen since thorough monitoring started in the 1970s the surface is still Rising even after a series of earthquakes in late 2008 that prompted internet speculation about an approaching apocalypse the question of a future eruption is a constant source of Fascination and fear while a colossal Caldera forming eruption capable of causing widespread Devastation and a volcanic winter is a possibility it remains uncertain such an event could occur within our lifetimes or not for another 100,000 years Yellowstone's volcanic restlessness extends Beyond ground movement recent eruptions around the world offer valuable insights the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines which killed 800 people serves as a reminder of the potential dangers the 2022 eruption of the hunga Tonga volcano however presented a new phenomenon an enormous ring of lightning this un precedented event the largest volcanic eruption in over a century ejected a massive plume of molten rock and vaporized water the resulting plume interacted with the atmosphere in unexpected ways creating a perfect storm for record setting lightning volcanologists were astonished by the sheer scale and intensity of this electrical display by meticulously combining data from various monitoring systems scientists were able to reconstruct the events that led to to this phenomenon the hunga Tonga eruption highlights the importance of studying volcanic lightning monitoring this phenomenon could offer valuable insights into the timing and intensity of future eruptions thick plumes often obscure the activity within a volcano making it difficult for satellites to determine when an eruption has ended or new lava flows are emerging realtime data on volcanic lightning could provide crucial information for public safety measures and evacuation decisions though it is an incredibly beautiful area Yellowstone National Park also serves as a sobering reminder of the tremendous power that lies just beneath the surface even while there is always a chance that a catastrophic eruption won't happen anytime soon research is still being done to better comprehend and prepare for this constant threat if you enjoyed this video smash that like button and subscribe for more explorations of the unknown