Naked Science - Super Volcano

Episode aired Sep 22, 2004
44m
Director
Martin Gorst
Writer
Martin Gorst

The term "supervolcano" implies a volcanic center that has had an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index (VEI), meaning the measured deposits for that eruption is greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles). The VEI scale was created as a general measurement of the explosivity of an eruption. There are multiple characteristics used to give an eruption its VEI allowing for the classification of current and historic eruptions. The most common criteria are volume of ejecta (ash, pumice, lava) and column height. All VEI 8 eruptions occurred tens of thousands to millions of years ago making the volume of ejecta or deposits the best method for classification. An eruption is classified as a VEI 8 if the measured volume of deposits is greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers (240 cubic miles). Therefore a supervolcano is a volcano that at one point in time erupted more than 1,000 cubic kilometers of deposits. Yellowstone, like many other supervolcanoes, has also had much smaller eruptions. The cartoon shows a comparison of eruption sizes, including the three largest from Yellowstone.

Naked Science is an American narrative TV arrangement that debuted in 2004 on the National Geographic Channel and went through November 2011. The system highlighted different subjects identified with science and innovation.

A percentage of the perspectives communicated may be considered periphery or pseudo-science, and a portion of the researchers may introduce suppositions which have not been legitimately companion audited or are not generally acknowledged inside their established researchers, specifically on themes, for example, Bermuda Triangle or Atlantis for instance.