While we look to the heavens and imagine a cosmic event wiping out all life on earth - what if the greater threat was all the while right beneath us ? How long has modern man (Homo sapiens) been on the earth ? When did our recorded history begin ? When compared to events in geologic time the amount of time that we have been on earth is insignificantly small.

So we have no concept of 75,000 years ago - that's when a volcanic eruption named the Toba eruption in Indonesia pumped some 8 million tons of hydrogen sulphide gas into the atmosphere along with about 670 cubic miles of ejecta. This produced a global volcanic winter that lasted a decade.

Now forward to today. An even bigger eruption overshadows mankind and unfortunately the U.S. is ground zero. Yellowstone National Park is where it will begin and it's called a "super volcano". It will not erupt like a regular volcano. The lava will not come up from a mountain volcano. The ground will open up and lava will start to creep out in all directions destroying everything in its path.

How much lava ? "An enormous pool of magma sits high in the Earth’s crust. It’s been calculated to contain about 60 billion cubic miles of molten rock"



Not to worry though - this only happens about every 700,000 years. Yes, unlike the more unpredictable cosmic planet killer asteroids - our super volcano is much more predictable. The last time the Yellow Stone super volcano erupted was 640,000 years ago.

So we still have 60,000 years before we're either screwed or we find a way to intervene with the super volcano and stop it from doing its thing and wiping out earth's human population.

http://nypost.com/2017/10/12/supervolcano-could-start-erupting-faster-than-thought/?link=mktw

NASA's plan to save mankind
http://nypost.com/2017/08/24/nasas-plan-to-defuse-yellowstones-continent-killing-super-volcano/

They did a study where they figured out that when the magma chamber is full you have about 1-2k years before it blows. But then this year they redid the study and now they think once the magma chamber is full you have about 100 years. The magma chamber at yellowstone has been full for about 100 years. It literally could go any time.

These considerations are about the same than someone who is thinking of stopping cigarettes to avoid cancer while driving at full speed against a concrete wall, if you understand what I mean...

maybe we can return to simpler lives if this starts happening. might be good for the world.

You mean after several million people have died? That's a pretty crass thing to say.

Several Million???

More like several billion.

A few million tons of H2S released will kill EVERY living thing downwind, the volcanic winter will mop up the rest.

So in that case we won't even be able to return to "simpler lives". Whatever that is supposed to mean!

if an event like this were to happen now it is fairly likely that it would wipe out most of humanity for better or worse

since there's not much we can do about it at present technology levels, it doesn't seem like it's worth worrying about, since anyone who survives will be living a hunter gatherer lifestyle whether they want to or not. for those who can handle that kind of thing, it's no big deal. for everyone else, well, there's not much choice is there.

I'd say some people have a head start on the rest of us, when it comes to getting simpler.

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On a side note, I get the distinct impression that there is good (research) money to be made in the doom and gloom prediction business.

Yup. Lots of publishers made a ton of money with their alarmist Y2K "end of the world" books.

Master ...."But then this year they redid the study and now they think once the magma chamber is full you have about 100 years. The magma chamber at yellowstone has been full for about 100 years. It literally could go any time"


If that's the case - well boys it's been a good run

The best insurance for a cataclysmic event is to colonize other planets. That means pouring money into NASA and other space programs, for the good of mankind. Seems like a great idea to me. Who wouldn't want to gaze upon another star from an alien shore?

Space X is already making great progress. Elon Musk is the man!!

He may be the closest person we have to a real life "Tony Stark"

He is a pretty neat guy.

Gonna have to add football pads, spray paint, feathers, and hot glue to my prep kit for that one. And leather. So much leather.

No hockey mask and really shiny .44 Magnum revolver with scope?

All I care about is the next 50 years max. After that...there is no earth. So I don't care about the environment beyond that. As long as my standard of living doesn't get impacted within that time frame, it's none of my concern and I care not to lift a finger to help.
Good Luck

Not to worry guys, we are working on and close to, rolling out a plan to move the whole mess to Texas.

We have plenty of room for it to blow with little or no damage to the surrounding planet.

If we place it carefully we can even save Dallas.

bring it to Houston during another 50" rain lasting a week - that should take care of it