Yellowstone supervolcano: Magma plume deviates from expected behavior

[color=cyan]The magma plume at the heart of Yellowstone's supervolcano has vexed researchers for years. The unexpected behavior of the plume, which deviates from magma plume behavior in places such as Hawaii, may finally have been explained. The plume underneath Yellowstone interacts with the subducting Pacific ocean plate.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com...

[color=sky blue]Could the interaction with the descending dense Pacific Ocean plate affect the plume in other ways?
Perhaps temperature variation in the Yellowstone plume when compared to other plumes is also caused by this interaction.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com...

[color=turquoise]Given this newly realized interaction, more studies should be conducted to ascertain any additional deviations from expected mantle plume behavior to aid in assessment of future volcanic hazards in the Yellowstone area.

Oh boy, we are screwed if that goes off.

reply to post by r4winds


They made a model that could explain what is happening, and then they made an assumption based on that model; but, models don't make proof, and assumptions don't make facts.

You gotta know that there are multiple ways to come to an answer: 1+4= 5 and 2+3=5...

When you have the answer, it's easy to build a model to fit the equation.

Just saying.

reply to post by r4winds


It would seem logical that, if the magma plume is being influenced by the subducting plate, it would gain in temperature proportionally to the amount of lateral and vertical pressure the subducting plate applies to the plume. (Whew). So, yeah, kinda makes sense.

This is Ats

If Yellowstone blows it's one of 3 things

1: Mk Ultra Bears

2: False Flag

3: Israeli tourists spotted at park just days earlier

reply to post by penninja
Couldnt help but to picture bears in yellow hard hats on drilling there

Originally posted by dreamfox1
reply to post by penninja

 

Couldnt help but to picture bears in yellow hard hats on drilling there

edit on 7/30/2012 by dreamfox1 because: (no reason given)

Sadly five minutes after I wrote that some guy at Darpa printed it up, ran it up to his boss as his own idea and got a raise and promotion.

Originally posted by penninja

Originally posted by dreamfox1
reply to post by penninja

 

Couldnt help but to picture bears in yellow hard hats on drilling there

edit on 7/30/2012 by dreamfox1 because: (no reason given)

Sadly five minutes after I wrote that some guy at Darpa printed it up, ran it up to his boss as his own idea and got a raise and promotion.

Thank you for both of them... best laugh I have had all day. Wonder if the bears bring their lunches in to work in picnic baskets?

reply to post by madmac5150

Wonder if the bears bring their lunches in to work in picnic baskets?

Rummer has it that in order to get your picnic basket past the time clock you need to give Yogi a pbj and Boo Boo a Twinkie. Otherwise Yogi gets your picnic basket and Boo Boo rats you out to Ranger Smith.

Originally posted by penninja
This is Ats

If Yellowstone blows it's one of 3 things

1: Mk Ultra Bears

2: False Flag

3: Israeli tourists spotted at park just days earlier

Where did you get this info!? Who are you working for?!?

New article from Live Science: Yellowstone's Volcano Bigger than Thought



Link to Article: www.livescience.com...

Originally posted by penninja
This is Ats

If Yellowstone blows it's one of 3 things

1: Mk Ultra Bears

2: False Flag

3: Israeli tourists spotted at park just days earlier

You Sir are QUITE rediculus! You should be ashamed of yourself!

















You forgot "Swamp Gas".

MOTF!

Scientist debate geologic formation of Yellowstone supervolcano.
Link: www.spacedaily.com...

Although the Yellowstone volcano's continued existence is likely due to the upwelling of this hot plume, the plume may have become disconnected from its heat source in Earth's core. "Disconnected, however, does not mean extinct," said Schutt. "It would be a mistake to write off Yellowstone as a 'dead' volcano. A hot plume, even a slightly cooler one, is still hot."

Fair enough, but what mechanics are at play enabling the plume to maintain a temperature that helps the rock to remain molten? Anything disconnected from the source that heats it begins to cool, and will continue to cool until reconnected to the heat source.

Ah, it's just occurred to me. Although possibly 'physically' disconnected from its heat source, it still sits like an air bubble above it, the distance being just right for the plume to survive at molten level via heat conduction through the rock. If this were so, the top of the plume would be slightly cooler than the bottom of the plume which is closer to the disconnected heat source. Herein may also lay the mechanism that leads to cyclic supervolcanic eruption?

Every so often the 'disconnected' phase becomes a 're-connected' phase (to the heat source), allowing the plume to become super heated and expand towards the surface by pressure from below, finally gaining exit along the weakest fracture points around the caldera shape? Re-connection could occur via subduction seismic activity?

Furthermore; the earths spin would act centrifugally upon the plume, sloshing the plume's molten rock around, whilst gravitational pressure would be greatest at the bottom of the plume, forcing it downward towards the earth's center, towards the heat source.