Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huge magma chamber spied under Yellowstone supervolcano

This undated photo provided by Robert B. Smith shows the Grand Prismatic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park's that is among the park's myriad hydrothermal features created by the fact that Yellowstone is a supervolcano, the largest type of volcano on Earth. Scientists have discovered a new, deeper reservoir of partly molten rock beneath the Yellowstone supervolcano. But they said the find doesn't change the chances of a volcanic eruption. (Robert B. Smith via AP)  (Robert B. Smith)
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scientists have spied a vast reservoir of hot, partly molten rock beneath the supervolcano at Yellowstone National Park. It’s big enough to fill the Grand Canyon 11 times over.

The gigantic magma chamber is four times bigger and much deeper than the previously known chamber above it. The upper chamber was responsible for three ancient volcanic eruptions that coated much of North America in ash.

The discovery fills a missing link in Yellowstone’s volcanic plumbing system. But scientists said it doesn’t increase the risk of an eruption, which is estimated to happen every 700,000 years.

Researchers at the University of Utah mapped the new reservoir by doing the geological equivalent of a CT scan. The findings were published Friday in the journal Science.