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I'm sure you know this, but just to point out, we're no more "overdue" for a supervolcano because it's been longer than average since an eruption than a gambler
by maxbond 4y ago
I'm sure you know this, but just to point out, we're no more "overdue" for a supervolcano because it's been longer than average since an eruption than a gambler is "due" to win because they've pulled the arm on their slot machine enough times. (Though iirc some volcanoes are periodic. But unless I'm quite mistaken, supervolcanoes aren't periodic globally.)
- bee_rider 4y agoIs there really no memory in this process? I imagine to some extent, some tensions would be building up or something like that.
- maxbond 4y agoI don't feel qualified to say there is no "memory", if I make claims any stronger than I've made already I'll be out of my depth, but see the information below for instance: > Most volcanic systems that have a supereruption do not have them multiple times. When supereruptions do occur more than once in a volcanic system, they are not evenly spaced in time. https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/yellowstone-overdue-eruption-when-will-yellowstone-erupt https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/yellowstone-overdue-eruption-when-... I think these are just very complex systems with many different factors, like the kind of rock they're under, what's going on with the continental plate at that time, etc. We don't have a good understanding of what's happening in the mantle, which is especially relevant for hotspot volcanoes like Yellowstone that are fed from the mantle (note that this is not how all supervolcanoes work). Allow me to leave you with an awesome animation of the formation of a very different supervolcano: https://youtu.be/sx3_WJHAERc https://youtu.be/sx3_WJHAERc