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Yellowstone Volcanic Activity Shifts Northeast, Study Reveals

New research finds magma reservoirs beneath the Yellowstone Caldera moving northeast, but no imminent eruption is expected.

  • Scientists have identified seven distinct magma reservoirs beneath Yellowstone, with the northeastern region showing the highest activity and potential for future eruptions.
  • The study used advanced magnetotelluric imaging to map magma distribution, revealing a complex system of interconnected reservoirs at depths of 4 to 47 kilometers.
  • The northeastern reservoirs hold an estimated 388 to 489 cubic kilometers of rhyolitic magma, significantly more than other regions of the caldera.
  • Researchers emphasize that while volcanic activity is shifting, the magma is not sufficiently connected to trigger an eruption in the foreseeable future.
  • Yellowstone's last major eruption occurred 640,000 years ago, and experts suggest any future eruption is likely thousands of years away, based on current data.
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