Lurking beneath Yellowstone National Park is a super volcano.  One that hasn’t erupted in 600,000 years.  New research shows that the caldera below Yellowstone (which is one of the biggest in the world) is a lot bigger then we previously thought.

This new study suggests that new measurement techniques have allowed scientists to more accurately map the underground caldera. (Caldera, in case you are wondering, is “a volcanic crater that has a diameter many times that of the vent and is formed by collapse of the central part of a volcano or by explosions of extraordinary violence”.)

The caldera under Yellowstone was already believed to be on of the world’s biggest, but they say it is even bigger than we thought.

It always amazes we when people freak out about the possibility of volcanoes and earthquakes around here.  Those big Rocky Mountains we wake up to see every morning, guess what forms them?  Earthquakes, volcanoes  and all sorts of tectonic shifting.

And before you get all riled up about it erupting in your backyard, read this from the story on Yahoo.

The study says nothing about the chances of a cataclysmic eruption at Yellowstone, but it provides scientists with a valuable new perspective on the vast and deep reservoir of fiery material that feeds such eruptions, the last of which occurred more than 600,000 years ago

If you are intrigued about end of the world phenomenon, check outt he History Channel’s special on the Yellowstone Volcano. Interesting, and kind of scary stuff.   To sum it up, if the Yellowstone super volcano ever fully erupts we’re all pretty much toast.

But don’t let it ruin your day.

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