Science
Yellowstone Earthquakes and the Importance of Science
Earthquakes have been swarming in Yellowstone. The significance? Possible future volcanic activity. Though not an immediate threat, this is a good illustration of why we need good, rational science.
…[T]he Yellowstone Caldera, formed in a giant volcanic eruption 640,000 years ago that blasted 240 cubic miles (1,000 km3) of molten rock (magma) into the atmosphere-more than 1,000 times the volume erupted at Mount St. Helens in 1980. Later eruptions largely filled the caldera and pushed up two resurgent domes within it—the Sour Creek and Mallard Lake Domes. No actual volcanic eruption has occurred in the Yellowstone region for about 70,000 years. [USGS Fact Sheet 100-03]
Get that picture? 240 CUBIC MILES of molten rock. That’s 5,280 feet by 5,280 feet by 5,280 feet. Of molten rock. Honey, this ain’t a barbecue, it’s the apocalypse.
According to a section on the PBS NOVA website “Mystery of the Mega Volcano,” that would mean as much as a third of the U.S. would be uninhabitable (and no one would probably want to live in the rest). More than that, other mega volcanoes in history are believed to have brought on Ice Age(s). Well that’s comforting. At least we wouldn’t totally screw up the planet all by ourselves, we can blame the mega volcano that will kill millions of people and make life on earth a literal hell.
Now I’m not out to preach for reckless hedonism in the face of possible disaster. I would rather you take away a desire to learn more about what science can and should do to prepare us for this. In fact, earthquakes are not new to Yellowstone, but they are scary when they happen in a “swarm.” Theories abound as to whether the next Yellowstone eruption would be as big as the formative eruption 640,000 years ago, but an eruption of some magnitude could be coming around the corner.
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory collects tremendous amounts of data to help monitor the caldera and keep watch for major eruption dangers. Though their jobs must be very uneventful most days, these people have to properly analyze the data and come up with risk reports which tell us what’s next.
Intelligent Designers take note: Humans aren’t designed to survive volcanoes. If the human race is to survive, we must teach good science. If you believe in an intelligent designer, that’s fine, but you cannot ignore the threat of destruction and wait for divine intervention. Please don’t stand in the way of real science.
- This photograph shows a horizontal view of the 2 May 2000 eruption of Steamboat Geyser. Photograph courtesy of Tom Cawley, NPS.
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5 comments for “Yellowstone Earthquakes and the Importance of Science”
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Right! But:
No, that’s (5,280 feet by 5,280 feet by 5,280 feet) X 240.
Three things they say suggest an eruption: Earthquake swarms, large deformations of the ground, and a great deal of new thermal activity.
Swarms are not uncommon. So far, this time that’s all we have.
Thanks for the clarification. I am very bad at math.
I still think it’s important to bring this up as it relates to the necessity of science and non-theistic science education. But you are correct, the swarms are not uncommon.
It’s ironic.
Various religious folks have been predicting the end of the world for many millennia and have ALWAYS been wrong.
Science doesn’t predict the end of the world (other than through natural processes), but it is more likely to be correct than any date set by religions, psychics, etc.
In other words, if you really want to know when the end of the world is likely to occur, ditch religion and learn science.
Ed, sure swarms occur but define often. Any change should from the daily norm needs to be treated as warning signs and caution is prudent.
Furthermore, the ground deformation from +-.6″ is normal and nominal but for the last 3 or 4 years there has been a +3″ shift. I think that you will also find that there have been several more thermal blasts and craters created recently. What does all this mean. MAYBE nothing, but then again I would rather have a gun and not need it than not have a gun and need it. So I select to be prepared anyone who is not is a fool and the very people that will cause the problems for those that are prepared. Sorry but my humanity stops when it will be difficult to take care of my own family. Will anything happen in my lifetime? Probably not but . . .
Anon, BOTH religious and science has been predicting the end of the world. Besides for the enlightened science and religion are not necessarily diametrically opposed to each other.
Just because they always have been wrong, does not mean that now is not our time, after all even a broken clock is right 2 times a day. Sooner or later the doomsday profits will be right and just because they always have been wrong does not mean they will be this time, with each passing year the odds of them being right increases. So your lack of concern by your hypothesis is nothing to bank on.
Also science has NO idea how to predict volcanic activity accurately yet so this is still another bit of misinformation you are handing out.
b
Bernie said:
“BOTH religious and science has been predicting the end of the world.”
Agreed, but the difference in frequency and earnestness between the two are not even close. Trying to equate them like that would be similar to me saying ‘BOTH Ron Jeremy and I have had sexual intercourse.’ While technically correct, it implies an equivalence that is misleading.
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Bernie said:
“Besides for the enlightened science and religion are not necessarily diametrically opposed to each other.”
I agree in priciple, but it all depends on one’s definition of ‘religion’, ’science’, and ‘enlightened’. I wish we had more enlightened people in the world.
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Bernie said:
“Just because they always have been wrong, does not mean that now is not our time, after all even a broken clock is right 2 times a day. Sooner or later the doomsday profits will be right and just because they always have been wrong does not mean they will be this time, with each passing year the odds of them being right increases.”
You are correct. Sooner or later, the doomsday profits will be right – but it won’t be because of their predictive power, it will be coincidental. If I predict “It’s going to rain tomorrow.” everyday before I go to bed, when it finally does rain, should I be hailed as a Prescient or be dismissed as a loon?
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Bernie said:
“Also science has NO idea how to predict volcanic activity accurately yet so this is still another bit of misinformation you are handing out.”
Again, you are correct. But the key word in that sentence is ‘yet’. The science of predicting volcanic erruptions is currently in the Dark Ages. It will improve; the same cannot be said for religious methods. (BTW, I claimed that scientific methods have a better chance of predicting the end of the world than religious methods do, not that science can predict when volcanos will erupt.)