A recent study to be published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal has concluded that the Yellowstone caldera magma plume could be larger than previously thought. A seismic study was conducted in 2009 to develop a theorized image of the plume which was thought to span nearly 600 miles beneath Yellowstone. The most recent survey used electrical conductivity techniques to identify the plume and found variations in the angle in which the plume dips. This could allow for a much larger magma body to be below ground. Using conductivity has allowed researchers to identify magma and briny water that was not detected in the seismic study. The picture below is the modeled data. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13061779
Yellowstone Caldera
April 17, 2011 by itscalledcaramel
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