Q&A with a Supervolcano
Everyone knows the Yellowstone Volcano rarely makes itself available for public comment. The Flat Creek Inn Blogging Team accomplished the impossible and procured an exclusive interview with the Yellowstone Volcano. Below is the Q&A with our favorite igneous feature:
Where are you from?
I grew up near the current border of Oregon and Nevada. As time went on, I spent time all across Southern Idaho and now reside in Northwest Wyoming. The interesting thing is sometimes people make the mistake of saying that I moved. I’ve actually been in the same place the whole time—the North American Plate has moved over top of me.
How old are you?
I’m around 17 million years old.
When did you start becoming famous?
I’ve done some really big things, like shape the Columbia River Plateau in Oregon/Washington and the Snake River Plain in Idaho. Modern people started hearing more about me after the Washburn expedition mentioned an “extinct volcano” after they passed through in 1870. (Of course, I’m not actually extinct.) Even earlier, Native Americans had drawn maps mentioning me as a volcano and have known about me for a long time. I entered mainstream public consciousness when researchers started popularizing the term “supervolcano” in the 1990s.
Who would be affected by an eruption of yours?
It depends. Every few years I experience hydrothermal explosions, which only affect people and wildlife within a few hundred meters. On the other hand, a complete supereruption and caldera collapse could drop meters of ash on nearly the entire Western US and potentially cause volcanic winter, dropping temperatures several degrees Celsius across the globe. Scientists say the likelihood of this happening in the next few thousand years is exceedingly low. But they didn’t say it was zero.
How would people know if you started getting ready to erupt again?
A few things might help indicate impending eruption. These include a flurry of moderate to large earthquakes, Yellowstone’s ground rising quickly due to magma underneath, a dramatic increase in sulfur dioxide, and significant changes to geysers or hot springs. I generally give a bit of a warning.
Now for some fun questions--what is your favorite film? Favorite song?
Both are Lava by Disney Pixar, naturally. I’m still looking for lava though.
Growing up on the Snake River Plain, Dillon could easily see the signature of the Yellowstone Volcano etched into the land. His family took him to nearby national parks so often that he took the parks for granted. It took the rigors of life to teach him how good he had it, and he now spends as much time in the mountains as possible.
