Supervolcano

What is a supervolcano?

Vocanoes capable or erupting on a much bigger scale than a normal one

Scientists estimate that there are around 6 or 7 S.V. can you name 4?

Yellowstone USA, Long Vlley, USA, Taupo, New Zealand and Toba, Indonesia

What would the impacts of a supervolcanoe be?

Apart from utter devastation, the impacts would be felt all around the world, say for example if yellowstone erupted again

For example Mount St. Helens in the USA errupted and created a crater 3km long and 500 metres deep, emitting 0.25km3 of material. How mnay times more could a S.V. emit?

It could emit over 11 000 times more material than Mount St Helens

How likeley is this to happen?

It is possible, however the yellowstone S.V. in the USA is constantly monitored to check for signs of activity and therefore well equiped should such a catastrophic eruption take place.

What could the effects of the amount of ash and gas thrown up into the atmosphere dramatically reduce the level of?

Radiation from the sun reaching the earth's surface which could in turn trigger a freezing cold volcanic winter across the planet.

Apart from the appearance being different can you name some other characteristics of a S.V.?

The magna is blocked from reaching the earth's surface. Pressure bulids up more rock melts, more magma forms creating a magma chamber

Other impacts that you can note?

1000km3 of lava would pour out of the volcano-enough to cover the whole of the USA with a layer of 12.5cm thick

How big can they be?

A supervolcano could create a global catastrophe

Why does a S.V. look different to that of a normal volcano?

Because it often doesn't have a peak or a cone

when the pressure becomes to much the entire suface of the magma chamber is blown away by a huge explosion, forming a what?

Calera

What devastation could a cold volcanic winter trigger?

Crops would grow and people would then starve, Economies would collapse and therefore society would not survive

What is a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)?

This is something used to measure the volume of material erupted. Each point on the scale represents an eruption 10 times bigger than the point below, so a VEI 5, is 10 times bigger than a VEI 4

When was the last super -eruption and where?

Toba - Indonesia 74 000 years ago!