Yellowstone Supervolcano

• Campylobacter jejuni wrote on 2014-04-08 14:38
  Any bets on when it will erupt? I'm kind of scared and excited about it.
  
  [video=youtube;ACO-sNn9KnU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACO-sNn9KnU[/video]
  
  Wiki article with a bit more information.
  
  
  I kinda hope it'll be in our lifetime actually. I want to visit the rim and see volcanic destruction as far as the eye can reach.
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2014-04-08 16:54
  Won't the world end when a super volcano erupts?
• Campylobacter jejuni wrote on 2014-04-09 00:57
  The world as we know it? Certainly, in a quite horrible way. But no, it wouldn't really stop living.
  
  
  But fuck me if the idea of a volcanic wasteland spanning dozens of kilometers isn't absolutely exciting.
• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2014-04-09 01:34

  Quote from Campylobacter jejuni;1213680:

  But fuck me if the idea of a volcanic wasteland spanning dozens of kilometers isn't absolutely exciting.

  
  
  Do you have any preferred method or should we all just get in a line or start going at it?
• Campylobacter jejuni wrote on 2014-04-09 05:19
  I think there's enough space to accomodate most of us at the rim given it's eventual length.
• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2014-04-09 05:29
  My rule on life is: I don't care what happens unless it affects me. So as long as I survive whatever wants to blow up can blow up.
• SUNFLARE wrote on 2014-04-09 11:08
  Volcano blows Ash meh ill deal with it not like anything going to hit us but the ash just like with mount saint helens that and ill charge people to shovel their ash for extra money win win ether way for me
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2014-04-09 15:51

  Quote from Campylobacter jejuni;1213680:

  The world as we know it? Certainly, in a quite horrible way. But no, it wouldn't really stop living.
  
  
  But fuck me if the idea of a volcanic wasteland spanning dozens of kilometers isn't absolutely exciting.

  
  
  It won't be when the internet is gone.
• Invisible wrote on 2014-04-09 16:52
  Once it erupts, I assume most forms of transportation will fall apart. I hope you're ready to walk there.
  
  Would you even be able to see far when the ash blocks out the sun?
• Ithiliel wrote on 2014-04-09 18:28

  Quote from SUNFLARE;1213797:

  Volcano blows Ash meh ill deal with it not like anything going to hit us but the ash just like with mount saint helens that and ill charge people to shovel their ash for extra money win win ether way for me

  
  
  You do realize that Yellowstone, when it erupts, the ash alone will travel all the way to the UK? Any other debris (volcanic rock, etc) will affect all the surrounding states and Canada. So no, its not just an "eh" I'll deal with it. You would probably die.
  
  Also, I fucking love volcanoes. It was my area of study when I was working on my BA in geology. Yellowstone in particular was my favorite to study, this discussion makes me happy!
• Campylobacter jejuni wrote on 2014-04-09 19:17
  Yeah comparing Yellowstone to St. Helens is a bit funny.
  

  Quote from Invisible;1213834:

  Once it erupts, I assume most forms of transportation will fall apart. I hope you're ready to walk there.
  
  Would you even be able to see far when the ash blocks out the sun?

  
  I can't see the correlation actually. Except for the initial rush of frantic escape. I'm talking a few months down the line though. I suppose it may still be pretty hard to get there, I mean let's not pretend everything goes back to normal after global agricultural yields plummet to a fraction of what we have now.
  The inevitable destruction of the US is really the littlest concern in such an event.
  
  Oh right, never thought of that. That ash would probably take a while to settle down.
  
  
  
  
  I suddenly have to think of that music video where children go play outside in a dead post-apocalyptic wasteland where it rains down ash all the time. ONe of the kids dies too. Don't remember if it's Sigur Rós or Aphex Twin.
• Ithiliel wrote on 2014-04-09 19:42
  Don't forget that it would also change the weather patterns, it affects a lot of things.
• Ashikoki wrote on 2014-04-09 20:20

  Quote from Space Pirate Nithiel;1213754:

  My rule on life is: I don't care what happens unless it affects me. So as long as I survive whatever wants to blow up can blow up.

  
  
  There is really nowhere on the planet that you could run to for survival when Yellowstone blows. If you're on the other side of the planet when it happens, you won't die right away, I suppose.
  
  The Americas would be uninhabitable for humans immediately. The coast on Europe and East Asia would also have to be evacuated. With so much gas released, I'd imagine that the destruction of our ozone layer would accelerate and pretty much return most of the planet to less complex life forms.
  
  As we are now, humans wouldn't survive. We're tenacious though, so maybe they'll find a way. Even still, we'd lose a majority of our population.
• Campylobacter jejuni wrote on 2014-04-09 21:39

  Quote from Ithiliel;1213857:

  Don't forget that it would also change the weather patterns, it affects a lot of things.

  
  
  Horrible weather is immediately easier to adapt to than a global lack of food and the resulting "disorder".
• Ashikoki wrote on 2014-04-09 22:04

  Quote from Campylobacter jejuni;1213873:

  Horrible weather is immediately easier to adapt to than a global lack of food and the resulting "disorder".

  
  
  I don't think you understand the scope of what " horrible weather" can imply.