Photos of Central Plateau Member rhyolite flow structures from the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field. A) An ogive from a road cut along Firehole Lake Drive. Ogives are pressure ridges that form perpendicular to the direction of flow from the compressive stresses that deform the highly viscous lava as it moves.
When was the last time Yellowstone erupted?
The most recent volcanic activity at Yellowstone consisted of rhyolitic lava flows that erupted approximately 70,000 years ago. The largest of these flows formed the Pitchstone Plateau in southwestern Yellowstone National Park.
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Related
How many active volcanoes are there on Earth? How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
There are about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, aside from the continuous belts of volcanoes on the ocean floor at spreading centers like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. About 500 of those 1,350 volcanoes have erupted in historical time. Many of those are located along the Pacific Rim in what is known as the " Ring of Fire." In the United States, volcanoes in the Cascade Range and Alaska...
What are some examples of supervolcanoes? What are some examples of supervolcanoes?
Volcanoes that have produced exceedingly voluminous pyroclastic eruptions and formed large calderas in the past 2 million years include Yellowstone in northwest Wyoming, Long Valley in eastern California, Toba in Indonesia, and Taupo in New Zealand. Other 'supervolcanoes' would likely include the large caldera volcanoes of Japan, Indonesia, Alaska (e.g. Aniakchak, Emmons, Fisher), and other areas...
What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States? What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States?
The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens (Washington) was the most destructive in the history of the United States. Novarupta (Katmai) Volcano in Alaska erupted considerably more material in 1912, but owing to the isolation and sparse population of the region, there were no human deaths and little property damage. In contrast, the eruption of Mount St. Helens caused loss of lives and...
Where is the largest active volcano in the world? Where is the largest active volcano in the world?
Rising gradually to more than 4 km (2.5 mi) above sea level, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet. Its submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km (3 mi), and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km (5 mi). This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (10.5 mi) above its base! Learn more: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
What was the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century? What was the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century?
The world's largest eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1912 at Novarupta on the Alaska Peninsula in what is now Katmai National Park and Preserve. An estimated 15 cubic kilometers of magma was explosively erupted during 60 hours beginning on June 6th. This volume is equivalent to 230 years of eruption at Kilauea (Hawaii) or about 30 times the volume erupted by Mount St. Helens (Washington)...
How do the giant eruptions in the Yellowstone National Park region compare to other large historic eruptions? How do the giant eruptions in the Yellowstone National Park region compare to other large historic eruptions?
The diagram below shows that the three largest Yellowstone eruptions emitted much more material than the eruptions of Mount St. Helens (1980), Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (1991), Krakatau in Indonesia (1883, incorrectly known as Krakatoa), and Tambora in Indonesia (1815). The largest eruption in the last two million years was about 74,000 years ago at Toba Volcano on the island of Sumatra...
What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again? What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?
The most likely explosive event to occur at Yellowstone is actually a hydrothermal explosion (a rock hurling geyser eruption) or a lava flow. Hydrothermal explosions are very small; they occur in Yellowstone National Park every few years and form a crater a few meters across. Every few thousand years, a hydrothermal explosion will form a crater as much as a few hundred meters across. Though the...
Central Plateau Member rhyolite flow structures from the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field
Photos of Central Plateau Member rhyolite flow structures from the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field. A) An ogive from a road cut along Firehole Lake Drive. Ogives are pressure ridges that form perpendicular to the direction of flow from the compressive stresses that deform the highly viscous lava as it moves.
Hillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
linkHillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow (the looming cliff) in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. In the past few thousand years, the springs have occasionally deposited travertine, which can be found at the bottom of the hill below the active springs.
Hillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
linkHillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow (the looming cliff) in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. In the past few thousand years, the springs have occasionally deposited travertine, which can be found at the bottom of the hill below the active springs.
Tuff of Lost Creek near Sepulcher Mountain, Yellowstone National Park
Outcrop of the Tuff of Lost Creek near Sepulcher Mountain in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Natalie Kraugh, Montana State University, on June 8, 2022.
Outcrop of the Tuff of Lost Creek near Sepulcher Mountain in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Natalie Kraugh, Montana State University, on June 8, 2022.
Obsidian Cliff lava flow, Yellowstone
Photograph of Obsidian Cliff along Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. Photograph by John Good, U.S. National Park Service, 1965.
Photograph of Obsidian Cliff along Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. Photograph by John Good, U.S. National Park Service, 1965.
The Yellowstone Volcano: Past, Present and Future
Public Lecture on Yellowstone Volcano by Jake Lowenstern at Menlo Park, CA on January 23, 2014. The Q&A at the end of the talk can be found on the original source video (Source URL).
Public Lecture on Yellowstone Volcano by Jake Lowenstern at Menlo Park, CA on January 23, 2014. The Q&A at the end of the talk can be found on the original source video (Source URL).
Yes! Yellowstone is a Volcano (Part 1 of 3)
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic features at Yellowstone: "How do we know Yellowstone is a volcano?", "What is a Supervolcano?", "What is a Caldera?","Why are there geysers at Yellowstone?", and "What are the other geologic hazards in Yellowstone?"
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic features at Yellowstone: "How do we know Yellowstone is a volcano?", "What is a Supervolcano?", "What is a Caldera?","Why are there geysers at Yellowstone?", and "What are the other geologic hazards in Yellowstone?"
Yellowstone Eruptions (Part 3 of 3)
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic eruptions at Yellowstone: When was the last supereruption at Yellowstone?", "Have any eruptions occurred since the last supereruption?", "Is Yellowstone overdue for an eruption?", "What does the magma below indicate about a possible erupt
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic eruptions at Yellowstone: When was the last supereruption at Yellowstone?", "Have any eruptions occurred since the last supereruption?", "Is Yellowstone overdue for an eruption?", "What does the magma below indicate about a possible erupt
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (Part 2 of 3)
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to provide a tour of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory: "What is YVO?", "How do you monitor volcanic activity at Yellowstone?", "How are satellites used to study deformation?", "Do you monitor geysers or any other aspect of the Park?", "Are earthquakes and
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to provide a tour of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory: "What is YVO?", "How do you monitor volcanic activity at Yellowstone?", "How are satellites used to study deformation?", "Do you monitor geysers or any other aspect of the Park?", "Are earthquakes and
Roadcut in the Lava Creek Tuff near Tuff Cliff, Yellowstone National Park
Roadcut in light pink ash-flow deposits of the Lava Creek Tuff on Grand Loop Road near Tuff Cliff. The color and closely spaced jointing are characteristic of the Lava Creek Tuff map unit. The steep faces and dense nature of the roadcut exposures indicate that a moderate degree of welding occurred and has not been subsequently modified by hydrothermal al
Roadcut in light pink ash-flow deposits of the Lava Creek Tuff on Grand Loop Road near Tuff Cliff. The color and closely spaced jointing are characteristic of the Lava Creek Tuff map unit. The steep faces and dense nature of the roadcut exposures indicate that a moderate degree of welding occurred and has not been subsequently modified by hydrothermal al
Columnar-jointed lava flow in the wall of the Yellowstone River canyon
A 1.5-million-year-old basaltic lava flow in the canyon wall of the Yellowstone River as viewed from Calcite Springs Overlook near Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Slow cooling of this lava flow resulted in the formation of vertical columns. Glacial gravels are present above and below the lava flow.
A 1.5-million-year-old basaltic lava flow in the canyon wall of the Yellowstone River as viewed from Calcite Springs Overlook near Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Slow cooling of this lava flow resulted in the formation of vertical columns. Glacial gravels are present above and below the lava flow.
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism (a little before 2 million years ago). The region was entirely an elevated and faulted mountainous terrain with no basin in the present plateau area.
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism (a little before 2 million years ago). The region was entirely an elevated and faulted mountainous terrain with no basin in the present plateau area.
Related
How many active volcanoes are there on Earth? How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
There are about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, aside from the continuous belts of volcanoes on the ocean floor at spreading centers like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. About 500 of those 1,350 volcanoes have erupted in historical time. Many of those are located along the Pacific Rim in what is known as the " Ring of Fire." In the United States, volcanoes in the Cascade Range and Alaska...
What are some examples of supervolcanoes? What are some examples of supervolcanoes?
Volcanoes that have produced exceedingly voluminous pyroclastic eruptions and formed large calderas in the past 2 million years include Yellowstone in northwest Wyoming, Long Valley in eastern California, Toba in Indonesia, and Taupo in New Zealand. Other 'supervolcanoes' would likely include the large caldera volcanoes of Japan, Indonesia, Alaska (e.g. Aniakchak, Emmons, Fisher), and other areas...
What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States? What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States?
The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens (Washington) was the most destructive in the history of the United States. Novarupta (Katmai) Volcano in Alaska erupted considerably more material in 1912, but owing to the isolation and sparse population of the region, there were no human deaths and little property damage. In contrast, the eruption of Mount St. Helens caused loss of lives and...
Where is the largest active volcano in the world? Where is the largest active volcano in the world?
Rising gradually to more than 4 km (2.5 mi) above sea level, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet. Its submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km (3 mi), and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km (5 mi). This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (10.5 mi) above its base! Learn more: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
What was the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century? What was the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century?
The world's largest eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1912 at Novarupta on the Alaska Peninsula in what is now Katmai National Park and Preserve. An estimated 15 cubic kilometers of magma was explosively erupted during 60 hours beginning on June 6th. This volume is equivalent to 230 years of eruption at Kilauea (Hawaii) or about 30 times the volume erupted by Mount St. Helens (Washington)...
How do the giant eruptions in the Yellowstone National Park region compare to other large historic eruptions? How do the giant eruptions in the Yellowstone National Park region compare to other large historic eruptions?
The diagram below shows that the three largest Yellowstone eruptions emitted much more material than the eruptions of Mount St. Helens (1980), Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (1991), Krakatau in Indonesia (1883, incorrectly known as Krakatoa), and Tambora in Indonesia (1815). The largest eruption in the last two million years was about 74,000 years ago at Toba Volcano on the island of Sumatra...
What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again? What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?
The most likely explosive event to occur at Yellowstone is actually a hydrothermal explosion (a rock hurling geyser eruption) or a lava flow. Hydrothermal explosions are very small; they occur in Yellowstone National Park every few years and form a crater a few meters across. Every few thousand years, a hydrothermal explosion will form a crater as much as a few hundred meters across. Though the...
Central Plateau Member rhyolite flow structures from the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field
Photos of Central Plateau Member rhyolite flow structures from the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field. A) An ogive from a road cut along Firehole Lake Drive. Ogives are pressure ridges that form perpendicular to the direction of flow from the compressive stresses that deform the highly viscous lava as it moves.
Photos of Central Plateau Member rhyolite flow structures from the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field. A) An ogive from a road cut along Firehole Lake Drive. Ogives are pressure ridges that form perpendicular to the direction of flow from the compressive stresses that deform the highly viscous lava as it moves.
Hillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
linkHillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow (the looming cliff) in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. In the past few thousand years, the springs have occasionally deposited travertine, which can be found at the bottom of the hill below the active springs.
Hillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
linkHillside Springs group at the margin of the Summit Lake post-caldera rhyolite lava flow (the looming cliff) in Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. In the past few thousand years, the springs have occasionally deposited travertine, which can be found at the bottom of the hill below the active springs.
Tuff of Lost Creek near Sepulcher Mountain, Yellowstone National Park
Outcrop of the Tuff of Lost Creek near Sepulcher Mountain in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Natalie Kraugh, Montana State University, on June 8, 2022.
Outcrop of the Tuff of Lost Creek near Sepulcher Mountain in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Natalie Kraugh, Montana State University, on June 8, 2022.
Obsidian Cliff lava flow, Yellowstone
Photograph of Obsidian Cliff along Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. Photograph by John Good, U.S. National Park Service, 1965.
Photograph of Obsidian Cliff along Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs. Photograph by John Good, U.S. National Park Service, 1965.
The Yellowstone Volcano: Past, Present and Future
Public Lecture on Yellowstone Volcano by Jake Lowenstern at Menlo Park, CA on January 23, 2014. The Q&A at the end of the talk can be found on the original source video (Source URL).
Public Lecture on Yellowstone Volcano by Jake Lowenstern at Menlo Park, CA on January 23, 2014. The Q&A at the end of the talk can be found on the original source video (Source URL).
Yes! Yellowstone is a Volcano (Part 1 of 3)
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic features at Yellowstone: "How do we know Yellowstone is a volcano?", "What is a Supervolcano?", "What is a Caldera?","Why are there geysers at Yellowstone?", and "What are the other geologic hazards in Yellowstone?"
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic features at Yellowstone: "How do we know Yellowstone is a volcano?", "What is a Supervolcano?", "What is a Caldera?","Why are there geysers at Yellowstone?", and "What are the other geologic hazards in Yellowstone?"
Yellowstone Eruptions (Part 3 of 3)
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic eruptions at Yellowstone: When was the last supereruption at Yellowstone?", "Have any eruptions occurred since the last supereruption?", "Is Yellowstone overdue for an eruption?", "What does the magma below indicate about a possible erupt
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to explain volcanic eruptions at Yellowstone: When was the last supereruption at Yellowstone?", "Have any eruptions occurred since the last supereruption?", "Is Yellowstone overdue for an eruption?", "What does the magma below indicate about a possible erupt
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (Part 2 of 3)
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to provide a tour of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory: "What is YVO?", "How do you monitor volcanic activity at Yellowstone?", "How are satellites used to study deformation?", "Do you monitor geysers or any other aspect of the Park?", "Are earthquakes and
USGS Scientist-in-Charge of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Jake Lowenstern, answers the following questions to provide a tour of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory: "What is YVO?", "How do you monitor volcanic activity at Yellowstone?", "How are satellites used to study deformation?", "Do you monitor geysers or any other aspect of the Park?", "Are earthquakes and
Roadcut in the Lava Creek Tuff near Tuff Cliff, Yellowstone National Park
Roadcut in light pink ash-flow deposits of the Lava Creek Tuff on Grand Loop Road near Tuff Cliff. The color and closely spaced jointing are characteristic of the Lava Creek Tuff map unit. The steep faces and dense nature of the roadcut exposures indicate that a moderate degree of welding occurred and has not been subsequently modified by hydrothermal al
Roadcut in light pink ash-flow deposits of the Lava Creek Tuff on Grand Loop Road near Tuff Cliff. The color and closely spaced jointing are characteristic of the Lava Creek Tuff map unit. The steep faces and dense nature of the roadcut exposures indicate that a moderate degree of welding occurred and has not been subsequently modified by hydrothermal al
Columnar-jointed lava flow in the wall of the Yellowstone River canyon
A 1.5-million-year-old basaltic lava flow in the canyon wall of the Yellowstone River as viewed from Calcite Springs Overlook near Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Slow cooling of this lava flow resulted in the formation of vertical columns. Glacial gravels are present above and below the lava flow.
A 1.5-million-year-old basaltic lava flow in the canyon wall of the Yellowstone River as viewed from Calcite Springs Overlook near Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Slow cooling of this lava flow resulted in the formation of vertical columns. Glacial gravels are present above and below the lava flow.
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism (a little before 2 million years ago). The region was entirely an elevated and faulted mountainous terrain with no basin in the present plateau area.
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism (a little before 2 million years ago). The region was entirely an elevated and faulted mountainous terrain with no basin in the present plateau area.
Updated Date: May 16, 2025