YELLOWSTONE HOTSPOT
Arguably, the most unique
volcano on Earth is the Yellowstone Hotspot in northwestern Wyoming, USA.
Most centers of volcanic activity on Earth occur along subduction zones or
mid-ocean ridges. Volcanism also occurs at hotspots. Good examples
include the Iceland Hotspot, the Hawaii Hotspot, and the Yellowstone
Hotspot. The behavior of volcanoes at hotspots varies considerably.
Yellowstone tends to have tremendously powerful explosive eruptions. The
last three major Yellowstone eruption have a periodicity of ~600,000 to 650,000
years. Yellowstone’s last major ash eruption occurred 640,000 years
ago.
The geology of the
Yellowstone Hotspot is readily examined, as the entire area is preserved in a
national park. Yellowstone National Park has the highest concentration of
geothermal features anywhere in the world. The area is famous for its
abundance of geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mudpots. The bedrock at
Yellowstone is dominated by rhyolitic ash beds & rhyolite lava flows.
11-minute
video of Yellowstone geysers, hot springs, mudpots
Norris
Geyser Basin - Back Basin (new)