Supervolcanoes discovered in Utah

The North American continent is home to several so-called 'supervolcanoes' (a term that is lamented by many geologists and volcanologists) such as Wyoming's Yellowstone Caldera, California's Long Valley Caldera, and New Mexico's Valles Caldera. Now, Utah joins the list of states that are host to some of the biggest eruptions in Earth's history.

After 30 years of intense research, collecting rock samples, creating gravimetric maps, and studying ash layers, geologists have zeroed in on the epicenter of what is thought to be one of the largest eruptions of all time in the US, bigger than even the largest eruptions of Yellowstone. But don't worry, scientists say that it is unlikely to ever erupt again, unlike Yellowstone, or Long Valley (the Valles Caldera also has the potential to reactivate, but is generally the quieter of the three). The magmatic system that produced these eruptions has long since become extinct.

The eruption was so large, that ash layers can be recorded as far away as Nebraska! Wildlife and plants from over 30 million years ago were preserved in these layers.

The epicenter is in an area known as Wah-wah Springs, in Western Utah, and extends to Eastern Nevada. This would make it one of the largest supervolcanoes on the planet (discovered so far at least), and one of the largest in North America.

Screenshot of Utah/Nevada Supervolcano eruption area and associated caldera from KSL.com web report.

Many mountain ranges and volcanic rocks in the area were associated with the White Rock Caldera, and it remains to be seen whether or not this volcano is related to it. Utah and Nevada lay on top of the Rio Grande Rift, an area of the United States that is spreading apart, rather than plates slamming together and subducting like the Pacific Plate and its associated Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanoes along this rift do not erupt as often as their pacific neighbors, but when they do, the eruptions are typically larger and more devastating, and obviously foster the creation of some mantle plumes (although in the arena of science, this would need to be more thoroughly researched, as mantle plumes are still somewhat controversial, despite a lot of evidence).

This recent discovery adds to ever increasing data about the eruptive history of our planet, and will undoubtedly fill in some gaps and resolve some mysteries that have puzzled geologists for some time.

Article cited from :

http://volcanoscience.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-supervolcano-discovered-in-utah.html

Types of Volcanoes

Another information that one need to know about volcanoes is their types.

Because of it is a one type of landform that vary greatly in size and shape.

The types of the volcanoes is driven by the :

1. Style of it eruption
2. Form as a result of lava shoots like a fountain into the air
3. Growth trough the alternating cycles of magma solidification and explosion 

Type of Volcanoes

Kilauea Volcano erupt

Natural service functions of volcanoes

There are few natural service functions of volcanoes:

• Volcanic soils
• Geothermal power
• Mineral resources
• Recreation
• Creation of new land

Volcanic soils

nutrients produced by the weathering of volcanic rocks allows crop to thrive in volcanic soils

fertile soils encourage people to live in hazardous area

 

 

Geothermal power

Internal heat  associated with volcanoes  may be used to create power for nearby urban areas.

 

Geothermal plant at Iceland

 Mineral resources

Lead, zinc, and cooper are found in VMS deposits. The deposits form in deep ocean water by the precipitation of sulfide minerals released by submarine volcanoes

 

Recreation

Heat associated with volcanoes can also provide recreational opportunities.Many health spas and hot springs are developed in volcanic area..Volcanoes also provide opportunities for hiking,snow sports and education.

 

Kawah putih Bandung

 

Creation of new land

Volcanoes responsible for creating much of the land that we inhabit

Past several decades,lava flow from Kilauea build deltas of land into the Pacific Ocean

 

Kilauea volcano

 

Human interaction with volcanoes

Unlike earthquakes,volcanoes do not lend themselves to human tinkering.

Hazard is beyond our control

The best we can do is attempt to minimize loss of life and property associated with eruptions

 

Tourism Suffers in Indonesian City Caught Between Quake and Volcano

 

cars trapped in lava flow

 

Kilauea volcanoes

Volcanic eruption in Alaska

minimizing volcanic hazard (volcanic alert or warning)

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

VOLCANIC ALERT OR WARNING

At what point should the public be alerted or warned that a volcanic eruption may occur?

The USGS Volcano Hazard Program has adopted an alert notification system nationwide for characterizing the level of unrest and eruptive activity at volcanoes.

The standardized USGS alert-notification system for volcanic activity was designed to be useful to people on the ground and to those in aviation. 

To meet these goals, the alert-notification system has two parts -

•  a four-tiered Volcano Alert Level 
•  a four-tiered Aviation Color Code

                                                      Ground based volcano alert level





                                        
                                              
                                     

mini

Minimizing the volcanic hazard (forecasting)

Forecasting

*probabilistic statement describing the time,place and character of an eruption

Forecasting volcanic eruptions uses information gained by:

Monitoring seismic activity

 

 

monitoring thermal,magnetic and hydrologic conditions

monitoring the land surface to detect tilting or swelling of the volcano

 

 

Rates of ground tilt  measured in the summit region of  Mauna Loa,Hawaii

 

monitoring volcanic gas emission

 

 

studying the geologic history of a particular volcano or volcanic centre