Unveiling the Timing of Yellowstone's Recent Rhyolite Eruptions

Scientists studying Yellowstone's volcanic history have gained new insights into the timing and nature of the park's rhyolite eruptions. Using a radiometric dating technique called 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, researchers found that the most recent stage of intracaldera rhyolite eruptions occurred in five brief episodes between 160,000 and 71,000 years ago. These episodes involved multiple eruptions spread out over several kilometers and released between 10 km3 and 130 km3 of magma. The findings suggest that intracaldera eruptions are more dramatic and less frequent than previously thought, with implications for understanding volcanic hazards at Yellowstone.