Utah scientists double Yellowstone magma estimate

University of Utah scientists recently determined that there’s twice as much magma below the Yellowstone super volcano as they found in a 2004 study. But that doesn’t mean it’s about to blow. Rather, it’s a testament to improved data from seismic tomography, a technique in which earthquakes are used to paint a picture of the world beneath our feet. U. scientists recorded the precise time and location of more than 4,500 quakes in the constantly active park and measured the time it took for those seismic waves to reach the surface. Slower times mean the waves are likely passing through hot magma. "It’s important to note that the magma reservoir isn’t actually getting any bigger," said Jamie Farrell, a postdoctoral fellow at the U. "The implications are: 1. We understand the system better than we did before. We understand how the volcano works, how it’s built underground, and 2. We can use this data to understand the potential for future hazards." Yellowstone National Park is a huge bowl-like caldera left over from the last massive volcanic event in the region, which is currently situated over a hot spot in the Earth’s mantle. Its magma reservoir — about 7 percent full of magma (or underground lava) located between 4 and 10 miles deep — is now thought to be about 80 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide, after data was crunched from roughly 4,500 earthquakes...more