Find Out What Happens If Wyoming’s Super Volcano Blows

One question people who don't live in Wyoming have asked me, way more than they should, is, "Are you worried about the super volcano erupting?"

My answer is always..." nope, it won't matter anyway."

Then I automatically start wondering what would happen if the super volcano erupted.

So, I went to YouTube to see what would happen if the super volcano under Yellowstone decided to rear its ugly head and erupt. The video I found from Koranos reminded me a bit of the movie Armageddon, without Bruce Willis becoming an Astronaut and saving the planet.

I can tell you that the science of volcanoes is fascinating, and the research that's gone into something that may not happen in many lifetimes is quite detailed.

I discovered that the Yellowstone caldera is one of the few in the world capable of super-eruptions. I also found that if the super volcano were going to cause a super eruption, we would know about it in advance. It could be days, weeks, or years, but we will probably have some warning.

The warnings could also come from interesting places, like outer space. Satellites may be able to see ground deformations. Seismographs will detect steadily growing earthquakes, and the ground may leak with steam or gases in some areas.

If the pressure underground becomes too great, massive explosions will begin, and a vast amount of volcanic material will shoot into the air. The velocity of the explosion could be so high that it could reach the stratosphere, spreading the volcanic material to areas across the country.

As we all know, what goes up must come down. As the volcanic material starts to cool, large rocks, like volcanic bombs, could fall to the earth.

Ash could enter the air and cause parts of the country to become toxic and inhabitable. Communications and air travel could be affected. The volcanic ash could spread over roads, buildings, and land, damaging cars, buildings, and farmland and destroying thousands of acres of crops.

The explosions could end up being the loudest sounds ever recorded and able to be heard thousands of miles away. The energy created from the blast could send pressure waves at the speed of sound worldwide multiple times, causing extreme changes in weather patterns.

It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of people would die on the day of the blast and hundreds of thousands in the days after. The explosion would also change the climate worldwide for years to come.

The 11-minute, 25-second video was like watching one of the worst 'end-of-the-world' movies you've ever seen, but it was so fascinating I couldn't stop watching. It made me think about living life one day at a time and making every day the best I can.

I recommend watching the video if you have a few minutes to spare and aren't scared of the end-of-the-world talk.