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What is a supervolcano?

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Welcome to CoreFacts, where we're always short on time and big on science. I'm Brian Campbell. Today's question is …

What is a supervolcano?

The term "supervolcano" implies an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index, meaning that more than 1,000 cubic kilometers (250 cubic miles) of magma are erupted. The most recent such event on Earth occurred 74,000 years ago at the Toba Caldera in Sumatra, Indonesia.

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