Yellowstone Hotspot Quiz
Mantle plumes, caldera formation, geothermal activity (10 questions).
Yellowstone Hotspot Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Yellowstone National Park preserves one of the world’s most dynamic volcanic systems. Sitting atop a stationary mantle plume, the heat source drives massive explosive eruptions and fuels thousands of geothermal features while the tectonic plate drifts overhead.
A stationary column of hot, buoyant rock rising from deep within the Earth’s mantle.
A depression across southern Idaho marking the hotspot’s path over millions of years.
High-silica, viscous magma responsible for the most explosive caldera-forming events.
Groundwater interacts with shallow magma to create geysers and hot springs.
Key Takeaways
- The North American Plate moves southwest over the stationary hotspot.
- Three major “super-eruptions” occurred 2.1 Ma, 1.3 Ma, and 640 ka.
- High-silica magma creates high viscosity, leading to explosive pressure.
- Old Faithful is a cone geyser; Grand Prismatic is a hot spring.
- The system is monitored for ground deformation and seismic swarms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a supervolcano?
A volcano capable of producing an eruption with ejecta greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers.
Is the Yellowstone volcano dead?
No, it is active, indicated by high heat flow, earthquakes, and ground uplift/subsidence.
Why does Old Faithful erupt?
A constriction in the rock plumbing allows pressure to build until steam triggers an eruption.
How fast is the plate moving?
Approximately 2.5 to 5 centimeters per year toward the southwest.
What is a caldera?
A large cauldron-like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber.
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