Hidden: The Part of Yellowstone Supervolcano the Media Is Not Telling You
In August 2024, the United States Geological Survey announced that new GPS and seismic measurements indicate a measurable influx of magma into Yellowstone’s deep reservoir. The finding updates a decade‑long picture of a volcano that has long been considered dormant. Scientists say the fresh magma could alter the probability calculations for future eruptions, even if a major event remains unlikely in the near term.
What Happened: New Data Reveal Ongoing Magma Recharge
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO), a partnership of the USGS, the University of Utah and the National Park Service, released a detailed report on 12 August 2024. The report cites a 2‑millimetre‑per‑year uplift detected by a network of GPS stations surrounding the caldera, a sign that molten material is pushing the crust upward. Seismic tomography conducted by researchers at the University of Utah identified a low‑velocity zone extending from 30 km to 46 km depth, consistent with fresh, hotter magma replacing older, cooler rock. According to the YVO, the chamber’s volume is roughly 10,000 cubic kilometres, comparable to the size of a small U.S. state, and the
Despite its reputation, Yellowstone’s most common eruption type in the past 2 million years has been hydrothermal, not magmatic, releasing steam and mud rather than lava.
