That would be an extinction level event. The amount of debris in the atmosphere would block out the sun around the globe and alter crop cycles. There would be years of crop failures and we would probable see another ice age as a result. The impact to our food cycle would be devastating. The vast majority of humanity would probably starve or kill each other in a search for resources.
Yup. I'd rather be annihilated by the initial eruption than try and survive the aftermath. It would be a dystopian nightmare.
I always ignorantly wondered if we could somehow relieve some of the pressure. That would probably just be the catalyst to set it off early though.
From what I've read, your second thought is right. Depressurizing the magma chamber may actually cause a surge of hot magma rising into the upper chamber which increases the likelihood of an eruption.
Looking that the effects of larger volcanic erruptions, if Yellowstone lets go in the way they think, extinction level is maybe an understatement.
Mount Toba - Its erruption took 2 weeks, global temperatures reduced by 3 to 4 degrees C. there was mass devestation of plants and animals in SE Asia,
Mount Pinatubo 1991 - caused Global temperatures to drop .5 degrees C
Mt Tamburo 1815 - caused the year without summer, severe ash and SO2 emissions caused major crop damage around the world. The price of grain in Switzerland quadrupled for example.
Laki 1783 (iceland) - crops in Iceland were devastated and 60% of its livestock died. It caused a europeon famine going as far as Egypt, some have linked the effects of the volcano to the French Revolution due to famine.
Ilopango El Salvador 483 - in theory was a primary cause of the global cooling in 535 and lead to crop failures all the way to China.
So in terms of if a Super Volcano blew in the middle of the States. The US would be devastated, most of the central food production in terms of crops and live stock would end, probably wild animal population and plants would die out. besides being a massive explosion in the middle of the States most infrastructure and power generation would be wiped out and the secondary immediate effects would be spectacular in terms of loss of infrastructure, secondary death effects due to disease and famine. The ash and SO2 effects would be beyond comprehension. Global crop failures, probably at least a 5 or 6 degree drop in temperatures globally which most agree would pretty much end most of the life on earth. the explosion though in the central states would trigger massive tsunami's globally. The positive though I guess, would be Earth would be well fertilized for whatever life would evolve next.
So, if I'm understanding your hypothesis correctly, still better than current living in Edmonton?
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That would be an extinction level event. The amount of debris in the atmosphere would block out the sun around the globe and alter crop cycles. There would be years of crop failures and we would probable see another ice age as a result. The impact to our food cycle would be devastating. The vast majority of humanity would probably starve or kill each other in a search for resources.
According to the USGS, humans have survived two volcanic eruptions larger than Yellowstone's most recent cataclysm - one 26,500 years ago, and one 74,000 years ago.
But I guess surviving as a species is different than surviving as a civilization. I don't imagine going back being hunter gathers with a life expectancy of 30 years old would be a lifestyle anyone wants to experience.
According to the USGS, humans have survived two volcanic eruptions larger than Yellowstone's most recent cataclysm - one 26,500 years ago, and one 74,000 years ago.
But I guess surviving as a species is different than surviving as a civilization. I don't imagine going back being hunter gathers with a life expectancy of 30 years old would be a lifestyle anyone wants to experience.
That was a different form of humanity though, they were not dependant on any technology at all, extremely mobile and had heightened survival skills. As well more survival of the fittest was heignted that far back.
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That was a different form of humanity though, they were not dependant on any technology at all, extremely mobile and had heightened survival skills. As well more survival of the fittest was heignted that far back.
Well, you're also talking about a global human population that's estimated to have been between a few tens of thousands and a few million back then, not nearly 8 billion. Also, you can say people are dependent on technology, but also it means that people now actually have useful technologies (including those that don't need electricity) and knowledge that didn't exist back then, not to mention storeholds of non-perishable foods. The scale of death would be vast now, but I would think there's no question our chances of survival as a species would be much higher now than in the past.
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I would argue otherwise, most people would die trying to figure out how to make a fire when google doesn't work . the smaller population would be a benefit. Plus having to figure out in a hurry an alternative food supply when the temperature quickly drops 5 or so degrees. you might get some survival in some of the far isolated areas. But I feel like there would be too many factors, the temperature, the composition of the atmosphere. The massive infrastructure. The fact that Bob your neighbor looks delicious? I think the suitability back then would have been better, there were far less people. they were used to scraping and living off of the land, they had a very simple existance, and they could ride their dinosaurs away from the explosion very quickly.
Also no matter how good a survival desire you have, when there are so many factors happening all at once or in the short term, that becomes a does not matter thing. Your going to be overwhelmed and die and not even John Cusack can say you.
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The original yellowstone was estimated as 200 megatons or the equivalent of dropping four of the largest atomic bombs ever detonated in one concentrated area. That's got to shift a lot of plates.
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If I was a philanthropist I would hire teams of people to combat the scumbag scammers all day every day.
If I was a philanthropist the last thing that a lot of these scum would see was a red dot on their forehead as they were typing away on their computers.
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. the smaller population would be a benefit. Plus having to figure out in a hurry an alternative food supply when the temperature quickly drops 5 or so degrees. you might get some survival in some of the far isolated areas. But I feel like there would be too many factors, the temperature, the composition of the atmosphere. The massive infrastructure. The fact that Bob your neighbor looks delicious? I think the suitability back then would have been better, there were far less people. they were used to scraping and living off of the land, they had a very simple existance, and they could ride their dinosaurs away from the explosion very quickly. 
