Supervolcanoes Around the World

Supervolcanoes are volcanoes characterized by catastrophic eruptions. On eruption, they spew volcanic ash over thousands of miles, capable of burying entire cities. However, there are so many misconceptions about them.

What Is a Supervolcano?

Volcanoes that are recorded to have a magnitude of 8 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index, and expel over 1000 cubic km of volcanic material are referred to as supervolcanoes.

They don't look like mountains; instead collapse into large craters in the earth’s crust, in which water collects and forms lakes.

Greatest Supervolcanoes in the World

Taupo, New Zealand

Lake Taupo, in New Zealand, rests atop a supervolcano, with its last eruption occurring around 26,500 years ago.

An eruption of 7 magnitude took place 5000 years ago, which is the most recent super-eruption.

Yellowstone Supervolcano, USA

This volcano has erupted three times: 2 million, 1 million, and 0.6 million years ago.

Today, the Yellowstone caldera is filled with water, forming lake.

Toba, Indonesia

Lake Toba, on Sumatra Island, fills a supervolcanic caldera formed by four eruptions over a million years ago.

The most recent mega-eruption occurred 74 thousand years ago.

Over 0.76 million years ago, a supervolcano erupted, blanketing much of the western US in ash, say volcanologists.

Long Valley, USA

Valles, New Mexico

Valles, a supervolcano in northern New Mexico, erupted twice: 1.6 million and 1.2 million years ago.

Other Volcanoes

Southern Japan’s, Aira caldera and Italy’s Campi Flegrei are also volcanoes that have spewed over 1000 cubic km of volcanic matter in the past.

Global Effects of a Supervolcanic Eruption

Supervolcanic eruptions are believed to cause volcanic winter, wherein, the ash would block the Sun's rays, thereby dropping the temperatures drastically.

Such eruptions will not only affect the climate and terrain of nearby cities but will also have a global impact.

Misconceptions

Supervolcanoes are definitely mega-destructive and super powerful; nevertheless, they aren’t something we need to panic about right now.

There is no evidence of them erupting for another half a million years or more. Volcanologists will be alerted several thousand decades in advance before an eruption of this magnitude takes place.