If Yellowstone's supervolcano were to erupt, it could cause devastating local destruction from pyroclastic flows and ash fall, and lead to global climate cooling with temperatures dropping up to 12 degrees for several years, potentially causing widespread famine. However, scientists believe such an eruption is unlikely in the near future, as the volcano is dormant and the magma chambers are cooling.
Scientists studying the Yellowstone supervolcano admit that despite advancements in understanding its magma chamber reservoir, the world is not prepared for the potential devastation of an eruption. The last eruption occurred approximately 640,000 years ago, and the average time between eruptions is around 660,000 years. The volcano's size and complexity make it highly unpredictable, and geologists warn that natural systems can throw unexpected curveballs. While there are currently no signs of an imminent eruption, intense seismic activity would likely be the first indicator. Small eruptions are more common, but a supervolcano eruption is inevitable in the future.
A paper in the scientific journal Renewable Energy proposes a new copper-based engineering approach to draw up the energy reserve of the Yellowstone Supervolcano to generate well over 11 Quadrillion Watt hours of electrical energy per year, which could potentially forestall the supervolcano from ever erupting again. The proposal offers a solution to the need for renewable, green energy that is 100% emission-free and the need to forever forestall the eruption of the Yellowstone Supervolcano.
