The Yellowstone Caldera and Us

When I was a child I had the opportunity to visit the Yellowstone National Park with my parents. It was a wonderful time even in the cold season we went because everything was very colorful and wonderous to take in when you're a first grade child and quite impressionable.

I recall sleeping in the car — being warm and toasty despite the chilling temperatures outside. I recall a warning of "Bear !" sometime in the the night but don't reall being afraid at all. There was something reassuring about being in the safety of my parents company. I was never in fear and my needs were always provided.

The water features and the geothermal events were captivating memories which have stayed with me over the years.

Lately there have been some 500 plus earthquakes in the Yellowstone Park area since the twelveth of June. Though this is not an unusual ocurrence, news of which I recently read regarding the supervolcano which is the yellowstone caldera and the alarming possibilities for massive activity on a scale some have described as "prehistoric" have come to mind.

The subterranian gasses and molten rock available for reactivity is of a scope beyond the imagination of those unattuned to thinking in terms of epochs and extinction level events.

Me ... my imagination is taking me places that are both scary and thought provoking as I consider the possibilities of this giant volcanic/geothermal incident waiting to happen.