Yellowstone's Supervolcano Causes 19-Mile Land Bulge

USA - Ekhbary News Agency

Yellowstone's Supervolcano Causes 19-Mile Land Bulge

In a fascinating display of Earth's dynamic forces, Yellowstone National Park is currently exhibiting a significant land bulge, spanning an impressive 19 miles across. This geological phenomenon, roughly equivalent to the size of 279 football fields, has seen the ground rise by approximately one inch since last July. While the uplift shows no signs of immediately ceasing, scientists are closely monitoring the situation, reassuring the public that fears of an apocalyptic awakening of the park's iconic supervolcano are unfounded.

The area experiencing this deformation is located on the northern rim of the Yellowstone Caldera, a vast volcanic basin in northwestern Wyoming. Dr. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, described the event as "stunning" but clarified that it is "not particularly unusual" in the context of the region's geological history. This is far from the first time researchers have documented such uplift. A similar deformation event spanned approximately 16 years, concluding in 2020, and another occurred over four years starting in 1996.

These subtle shifts in the Earth's crust are imperceptible to the casual park visitor. However, they are readily detectable by sophisticated seismological equipment and advanced observational tools. "We can see things that are moving up and away from this area of uplift on radar maps and satellites we use to measure this sort of thing," Poland explained. His team utilizes 17 GPS stations strategically placed across the park to precisely track the extent and origin of the uplift, providing crucial data for understanding the subterranean processes at play.

While the visual evidence of the ground rising might spark concern, the probability of a major eruption remains exceedingly low. The supervolcano is indeed the likely cause of this observed deformation. A 2025 study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that Yellowstone's magma chamber, while containing a relatively low amount of molten rock, still possesses sufficient material to drive geological activity. Dr. Poland theorizes that the current bulging is a result of the "accumulation and withdrawal" of magma situated about nine miles beneath the Earth's surface. He further noted that any imminent eruption would typically manifest as a much shallower deformation.

"Since there is a known magma chamber, it is not surprising that there's stuff moving around down there," Poland commented, highlighting the natural processes occurring within the Yellowstone volcanic system. Interestingly, the past year was notably calm for Yellowstone in terms of seismic activity. The park typically registers an average of 1,500 to 2,500 earthquakes annually. However, scientists recorded only 1,119 earthquakes in 2025, indicating a below-average year for seismic events. Therefore, while the ground may continue its gentle undulation for some time, it is simply Yellowstone continuing its role as a dynamic and awe-inspiring geological wonder.

Ekhbary News Agency