00:00Scientists have outlined what could happen if Yellowstone experienced a worst-case super-eruption.
00:05The Yellowstone volcanic system in Wyoming has a caldera roughly 55 to 70 kilometers across.
00:11The scenario begins with earthquake swarms, rising ground and changes in gases and hydrothermal
00:17activity. If magma reaches the surface, explosive eruptions could send ash and volcanic material
00:23high into the atmosphere. An eruption column could rise 30 to 50 kilometers above the ground.
00:28Heavy ash could spread across much of North America, disrupting roads, airports, power
00:34networks, and water supplies. One model suggests Billings, Montana, could eventually receive up to
00:401.8 meters of ash. Agriculture and supply chains could suffer as crops. Livestock and infrastructure
00:47are buried or contaminated. The effects would not end when the eruption stops. Sulfur dioxide could
00:53form atmospheric aerosols, causing years of volcanic cooling. The article describes this
00:58as a worst-case thought experiment. Not a prediction that Yellowstone is about to erupt.
01:03Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
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