According to several ‘the end is nigh’ groups, 2010 marks the end of the world as we know it. But how will it happen?

Super Volcano

One of the most popular theories regarding our demise revolves around the eruption of a ‘super volcano’. The most popular choice being the super volcano that lies beneath Yellowstone Park in the USA, one of the largest in the world.

Bubbling away below the Earth’s crust lies a reservoir of molten magma, slowly building up heat and pressure until an eruption is inevitable. The timing of the explosion is a subject of hot debate throughout the scientific community. It is known to erupt every 600,000 years, which might sound like we’re pretty safe BUT the clock stands at 640,000 since its last eruption, which means that its more than overdue!

Ash Cloud

When it does erupt – and it does definately seem to be an ‘when’ not an ‘if’, it will be unlike anyother volcanic eruption we have ever seen. The eruption itself will be heard around the globe, the sky will turn black and a heavy ash laden rain will fall, resulting in the Earth being plunged into a nuclear winter. the last known eruption of such magnitude happened 74,000 years ago causing catastrophic consequences for life on the planet.

Closely monitored by vulcanologists the magmas movements have caused the ground around the Yellowstone site  to raise by 70cms in the last century. What is not known is whether this is the result of the magma flowing around from one chamber to another, or a dangerous build up of pressure beneath the crust.

Danger!

Scientists agree that thousands of people would die and huge areas of America would be destroyed within minutes of the eruption. Ash would block out the sun causing temperatures to plummet. Life on Earth would be taken to the point of extinction.

You might also like:

Loading...