On the Mechanism of Catastrophic Caldera-forming Eruptions: Yellowstone’s Approval
Andrei Nechayev *
Department of Geographic, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Leninskiye Gori 1, Moscow, Russian Federation, Russia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper proposes and analyzes a possible scenario of preparation and development of Caldera-forming eruptions of Yellowstone. As a physical mechanism of eruption the imbalance between the column of liquid (magma in the chamber and the conduit) and closed volume of gas (fluid accumulated within the magma chamber) is considered. To demonstrate the mechanism operating a simple experiment with water is realized and described. Theoretical conditions for the supposed Yellowstone super-eruption are formulated and discussed.
Keywords: Yellowstone supervolcano, caldera formation, magma chamber, eruption mechanism