Yellowstone, a giant... Awakes?

[Maphusio]

If the Yellowstone super volcano erupted with the intensity anticipated it would be a global killer. Some here have argued with me in the past and I'd hate to say, "I told you so." when it comes to the human race becoming a space faring one sooner rather than later.
l

The thing is just ... if it really happens, what can one do about it?

I mean. Its on such a large scale, that the question is how far can one prevent it from happen seriously. Or should people start to collect food, energy resources and built a shelter for the worst case scenario? If you dont even know if it might explode next week, in 50 or 500 years ?

Thats the trick aint it? The "what if's" / doomsday scenarios are always going to be there; but, to put it simply, don't you think it would be smart to get all of our eggs out of the same basket?

In other words, colonize planets/moons in our solar system. We know some of them have water and could even contain life! As that crazy guy (Robert Zubrin) people don't like me quoting said, "If the human race/civilization is to survive, it needs to become a space faring one."

We can now travel from the Earth to Mars in 39 days... I think its time we started living there.

I think we should finally populate the Moon or Mars [it was Von Brauns the father of the US space program imagination after all!] to make sure that humanity can repopulate earth again after some heavy cosmic or similar devastating event

You mean the filthy rich populating the Moon and Mars, when it comes to it there will be no place for us on the rocket.

Perhaps we can change the coordinates in the computer and make the rocket fly in to the sun.

The knowledge in my last couple of hours of existence that the rich fat cats went ahead of me screaming in terror during their last seconds, is very comforting.

Was it the filthy rich that came to the new world IE America? -checkmate

The U.S. Geological Survey, University of Utah and National Park Service scientists with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory "see no evidence that another such cataclysmic eruption will occur at Yellowstone in the foreseeable future. Recurrence intervals of these events are neither regular nor predictable.

(Stolen from Wiki)

I don't know about you guys, but that doesn't do much to comfort me.

Still though, I'd like to know the exact numbers of how much magma or dust it could blow out.

http://www.solcomhouse.com/yellowstone.htm

The above site reflects back on previous data on yellowstone's eruptions. I think it should answer your questions.

Here's the beautiful part about events on that scale. Big problems usually big symptoms. So at least you may have some time to try to hide, say goodbye, leave your mark. Whatever.

As it has been said tho', St. Helens went with little warning.

Something on this scale tho', wouldn't it just collapse as opposed to explode?
I mean a hole in the ground that large with nothing but earth above it, wouldn't Yellowstone just simply sink?

I think the honest answer, is no one knows for sure. The previous eruptions are evident (the great chasms of the park) and did blow outward. We are talking an explosive eruption, so pressure building up and expelling outward. Generally volcanic gasses play a roll in the pressure and water can be a big factor. Take Mt. St. Helens. It was fine until the melting glacier water crashed into the magma... the rest is history.

Wouldn't it be great if the pressures did not build up and the result was oozing lava?!


I hate to break it to everyone but I may have spoken prematurely...

1.5 2008/12/31 08:05:00 44.514N 110.360W 1.1 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
3.3 2008/12/31 08:02:11 44.523N 110.361W 4.9 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.5 2008/12/31 05:50:01 44.518N 110.368W 2.0 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.1 2008/12/31 05:46:53 44.520N 110.362W 2.0 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.9 2008/12/31 05:42:06 44.519N 110.367W 0.1 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.6 2008/12/31 05:26:56 44.501N 110.385W 2.2 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.4 2008/12/31 05:23:52 44.520N 110.371W 1.0 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.7 2008/12/31 04:52:19 44.503N 110.371W 0.4 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.3 2008/12/31 04:40:04 44.526N 110.368W 2.2 60 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.6 2008/12/31 04:25:24 44.516N 110.376W 1.8 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.4 2008/12/31 04:25:11 44.523N 110.364W 2.2 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.4 2008/12/31 04:22:16 44.520N 110.382W 2.2 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
2.7 2008/12/31 04:15:44 44.522N 110.372W 1.2 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.5 2008/12/31 04:12:40 44.516N 110.373W 0.6 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.8 2008/12/31 04:08:59 44.532N 110.381W 0.4 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
0.6 2008/12/31 04:08:34 44.527N 110.367W 2.1 60 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
2.4 2008/12/31 04:06:14 44.520N 110.371W 1.2 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.9 2008/12/31 04:05:12 44.532N 110.380W 0.3 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.3 2008/12/31 03:53:29 44.520N 110.364W 2.2 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
0.9 2008/12/31 03:52:59 44.504N 110.381W 2.1 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.5 2008/12/31 03:52:23 44.546N 110.394W 0.7 58 km (36 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.9 2008/12/31 03:43:37 44.524N 110.372W 1.5 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
0.9 2008/12/31 03:26:38 44.523N 110.367W 0.0 61 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.1 2008/12/31 03:26:01 44.532N 110.381W 2.0 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.8 2008/12/31 03:23:43 44.530N 110.380W 1.0 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.2 2008/12/31 03:23:07 44.529N 110.380W 0.9 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.5 2008/12/31 03:21:49 44.521N 110.373W 2.1 60 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.4 2008/12/31 03:16:44 44.527N 110.367W 0.8 60 km (38 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT
1.4 2008/12/31 03:14:42 44.568N 110.444W 7.2 53 km (33 mi) E of West Yellowstone, MT
1.9 2008/12/31 03:13:50 44.531N 110.381W 2.1 59 km (37 mi) ESE of West Yellowstone, MT


http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/Yellowstone.html

Larger earthquakes are now rocking yellowstone...

 

[alec]

We can now travel from the Earth to Mars in 39 days... I think its time we started living there.

We can't do that yet, Maphusio. If we could, we would, it's that simple.

 

[Per]

We can't die now... it's not 2012 yet!

 

[Maphusio]

We can now travel from the Earth to Mars in 39 days... I think its time we started living there.

We can't do that yet, Maphusio. If we could, we would, it's that simple.

...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5jrS9yp2kQ[/youtube]

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/plasma_propulsion_000616.html

A direct shot could get us there as early as 39 days. I NEVER talk bullshit unless I'm joking.

 

[Crni Vuk]

...
A direct shot could get us there as early as 39 days. I NEVER talk bullshit unless I'm joking.

No doubts about that. But it doesnt seem like the technology will be available tomorrow for everyone.

Frankly, a few scientists claimed that with enough money and resources spend on certain projects humans might already have space stations, whole villages on the moon by now. The ISS is a joint project between many nations afterall. So with enough money we could already have such a rocket. I mean the moon programm started as a competition between 2 nations as well and they managed to reach the moon in aprox 10 years of development at the end of the 60s. That tells a lot about what could be possible. The thing is just that for a mission to mars there is just not enough competition, people dont see a reason to spend millions and millions of dollars for such a project.

We can't die now... it's not 2012 yet!

Well yeah, all this yellowstone thing will not give me trouble to sleep. But this Nibiru stuff!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ePlE3XoPIQ[/youtube]

And Hitler survived the war ...

Hyperboreans consistently play a large role in Nazi, neo-nazi, and proto-nazi mysticism. Miguel Serrano was a Chilean diplomat and major proponent of Esoteric Hitlerism. He believed that Hitler fled to Shambhala, an underground centre in Antarctica after World War II (formerly at the North Pole and Tibet), where he was in contact with the Hyperborean gods and from whence he would someday emerge with a fleet of UFOs to lead the forces of light (the Hyperboreans, sometimes associated with Vril) over the forces of darkne ...

 

[alec]

A direct shot could get us there as early as 39 days. I NEVER talk bullshit unless I'm joking.

Oh wait, just because that Chang-Diaz guy claims that HIS company can do it, I need to believe him and, like, perhaps invest money in HIS company and HIMSELF?
There's tons of people around who claim they or their company can do certain things others can't, you know? They say that so that some rich idiot may come along and invest in them or their company.

And even IF we could go to Mars in 39 days, then fucking what? Putting six people onto the surface of a barren wasteland is no guarantee for the survival of our species, you know? Or wait, let me guess, you know a certain guy who can terraform Mars in, meh, less than a month, right? And you know of some other guy who can build spaceships that can hold up to a billion human beings in cryogenic state and he's prepared to work together with that Chang-Diaz guy with the plasma propulsion thingimajigs and so forth and so on?

Yeah.

And so then we're on Mars and we're gonna build a Brave New World over there and we'll build a Brave New World on the Moon as well and, heck, why not build one on Titan, that moon is just begging for it, isn't it? And we've got to terraform all of them, of course, because if we don't, we'll still be dependent on Earth in one way or another, or no, let me guess: you know of some guy who can build unbreakable glass domes out of thin air and with just a little bit of that thin air, he could basically make huge, protective artificial atmospheres that would encapsulate the millons of humans we drop off on our remote colonies, so that they can build their buildings and mine their minerals and do all the exact same crap they did on Earth in the first place.

And you know of this guy who can make drinkable water out of methane which is abundant on Titan.
And you know of this guy who can build spaceclothing, so thin, why, it would basically feel like everyday clothing and it would still hold back deadly cosmic radiation and it would hold oxygen tanks, but miniature ones, that could last a lifetime.
And you know of this guy who knows a shortcut in space, he knows how to get from our solarsystem to a completely diffrent star, hundreds or thousands or millions of lightyears away, but this guy would be able to do it in 15 days IF we just would invest in his idea.
And you know of this guy who knows another guy who thinks that a certain guy he went to college with knows how to genetically alter the human body so that it would be able to survive by breathing pure carbon monoxide and eating silicium.

Oh man.

I'd love to believe all this crap, but look at us struggle in space as it is. Humans are major fuck-ups, don't you know that by now? Anyone who thinks we should be fucking up more planets than just Earth, deserves to get a serious spanking. PLease, leave the rest of the universe alone. It's beautiful as it is. Why does humanity need to survive? Why? What is it, according to you, that is so valuable about humanity that the rest of reality needs it? Do you think the stars give a damn about us and our art and our wars and our other "achievements"? The only morons who think we are a great thing and need to exist for ever and ever are we. No one and nothing else gives a shit. And rightfully so.

Pfft... Yellowstone can't burst soon enough, if you ask me.

 

[Maphusio]

That tells a lot about what could be possible. The thing is just that for a mission to mars there is just not enough competition, people dont see a reason to spend millions and millions of dollars for such a project.

Exactly. Peoples mindset is such that its not possible or not needed. You find people that try to shoot down such a feet as becoming a space faring people with every fiber of their being...

" "

Case and point

Some folks don't want to even think something is possible. They will go to such amazing extents to prevent others from thinking the same. They will lie, they will be brutal and they should be ignored.

There is nothing that we the human race are incapable of, we just need to try. In the end if we never do try, if we continue our petty squabbles over oil, water, and other resources it would be one of the most heart sinking feelings for me, that we just gave up, and let the end come.

 

[Pope Viper]

You can't get two cultures to agree to a peace treaty (Israel/Palestinians), yet you foresee the entire planet coming together to execute these wonderful plans?

I'm sorry, this isn't Star Trek, and if you honestly believe it will happen within your lifetime (or your grandchildren's, for that matter), you're a bit naive.

Humanity as it stands now revolves around the individual only caring about things directly beside them, to hell with everyone else.

I have to concur with alec. It's not a matter of playing Chicken Little, it's a matter of knowing enough about human nature to realize that a truly worldwide community effort will not occur any time soon.

What you may consider petty squabbles are deadly serious to those who are participating in them.

 

[Crni Vuk]

once again the treat is Poped by owned. I Mean owned by Pope.

 

[FeelTheRads]

There is nothing that we the human race are incapable of,

I see you're doing justice to your avatar.

We can now travel from the Earth to Mars in 39 days... I think its time we started living there.

No, we can't.
When the first successful travel happens, I'll start believing it. Until then, they're all assumptions.

 

[Maphusio]

There is nothing that we the human race are incapable of,

I see you're doing justice to your avatar.

We can now travel from the Earth to Mars in 39 days... I think its time we started living there.

No, we can't.
When the first successful travel happens, I'll start believing it. Until then, they're all assumptions.

2012 then? That is when the rockets will be ready to fire on the ISS. The idea will be to test velocities and breaking then possibly a quick fly by the moon.



Do I think the entire world will come together over night and create some global government with everyone happy? No, not at all in fact if you watch Star Trek they still have issues with terrorism. Do I think it is possible for the majority of the major governments on this planet to agree that space IS the final frontier and serious efforts and strides need to be made in my lifetime to get off this planet? Simply put, yes.

If one were to look at the money making potential, that alone would turn heads.

BTW, FeelTheRads... Screw your head on strait. There is more than one out there that believes in compassion over fear.

 

[maximaz]

So if it does go off, what makes it a global killer? The explosion itself or the ash? If it's the ash then there is no reason to move any other place where we can't breathe like the moon or mars. I'm sure they'd think of something on Earth for most people to survive.

 

[Fade]

So if it does go off, what makes it a global killer? The explosion itself or the ash? If it's the ash then there is no reason to move any other place where we can't breathe like the moon or mars. I'm sure they'd think of something on Earth for most people to survive.

Both actually.

The ash isn't a killer in that we cann't breath, but that the amount of sunlight we're getting drops alot. Resulting in colder temps and plants dying off.

As for the explosion.... Those closest to it will be vapourized and the shockwave will cause tidal waves destroying the coasts.

It's also possible that it will trigger the rest of the fault lines to create their own volcano. So there isn't a safe place on Earth from this problem.


Maphusio: 39 days?!? Under what conditions and how many people per launch are we talking about?


Oh and why is that everyone talks about the Moon or Mars when it comes to colonizing space? Both have problems and the only good reason to start with the moon is to use it as a launch pad for later missions. Try reading "The Clouds of Saturn" by Michael McCollum or "Siduri's Net" by P.K. McAllister... both of which are good entertainment in addition to being out of the box ideas on space colonies.

 

[Crni Vuk]

2012 then? That is when the rockets will be ready to fire on the ISS. The idea will be to test velocities and breaking then possibly a quick fly by the moon.

eventualy it will be possible.

It would not be first ambitious scientific project that had a unrealistic shedule or collapsed later on obstacles that one has not seen/calculated before.

Van Braun has seen humans living on teh moon for us today. In the 50s people thought we would have self aware machines already.

I mean we are not even so far that we can savely use energy of fussion in the sense as we do it today with usual nuclear plants. And it might stay that way for the next 50 years. (who knows that for sure).

 

[Snackpack]

When the human race acquired the ability to vaporize itself at the touch of a button, worrying about the world coming to an end got silly. You've got to take a little something with you the next time you watch Dr. Strangelove. I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb a long time ago. Plus volcanoes are fucking cool. I love them. I feel like I was born to love volcanoes.

As far as space colonization goes: It's only a matter of time. The technology is somewhat close, terraforming is theoretically sound, mostly just lacking finance as far as I can tell. I'm surprised their are people on a sci-fi / video game board that think space colonization is unlikely. I'm not saying it'll happen anytime soon, shit I bet we'll see an orbital restaurant with $250,000 plates of mini-tacos before we see a moonbase. But eventually, isn't it inevitable? In infinite time and space it's ridiculous to be a pessimist, the infinitely improbable is happening somewhere at every moment.

 

[Mord_Sith]

For once I think I'm with Maphuiso on this one, at least on a few points, personally I just think it'd be a sad and sorry state if humanity wiped themselves out or something else did the work for them because we were still planetbound.

I'm not saying that we're ready, mentally we're still selfish sycophantic bastards with a tendency for hatred and fear before anything else, and our technology is still lacking to make the trip worthwhile.

I'd like to see research and mining bases on the moon, but fiscally it's not worth it, not even for gold mining on the moon, the fuel costs alone ruin it, we need a cheap way to break the atmosphere before we can even consider branching out from this planet.

Space Elevators, or Mass Drivers are likely our only options in that regard, however a Space Elevator is a huge undertaking and is likely only going to be one in existence, also it can only exist on the equator, making most major powers unable to physically be in control of one, and mass drivers are physically huge by comparison, for one shuttle it would take about a dozen football stadiums long and a dedicated nuclear power plant attached to it to fire a shuttle sized craft fast enough to breach the atmosphere, and few countries have both the resources and the space to make that a reality.

Once there is a method in place however to reduce planetary exit costs prospectors will take another hard look at the final frontier.

The almighty dollar is what will bring humanity to space, not wanderlust or self preservation, but profit margins.

 

[alec]

Space Elevators, or Mass Drivers are likely our only options in that regard, however a Space Elevator is a huge undertaking and is likely only going to be one in existence, also it can only exist on the equator, making most major powers unable to physically be in control of one, and mass drivers are physically huge by comparison, for one shuttle it would take about a dozen football stadiums long and a dedicated nuclear power plant attached to it to fire a shuttle sized craft fast enough to breach the atmosphere, and few countries have both the resources and the space to make that a reality.

I think we should invest money in morning dew. Cyrano de Bergerac was able to reach the Moon with only some dew to aid him, you know.

I attached to myself a number of bottles of dew, and the heat of the sun, which attracted it, drew me so high that I finally emerged above the highest clouds. But the sun’s attraction of the dew drew me upwards so rapidly that instead of approaching the Moon, as I intended, I seemed to be farther from it than when I started. I broke open some of the bottles and felt my weight overcome the attraction and bring me back towards the earth.

Dew ftw!

If you give me some money, I will investigate this new source of energy and I'm sure that by 2012, humanity will be able to travel to Mars, meh, in less than a fortnight.

-- Alec's Dew Inc.

 

[Fade]

I'd like to see research and mining bases on the moon, but fiscally it's not worth it, not even for gold mining on the moon, the fuel costs alone ruin it, we need a cheap way to break the atmosphere before we can even consider branching out from this planet.

What is the next big idea worth? There is alot of research that is easier to do in space or in a micro-gravity environment like the moon. Presently most of the big money people are thinking like you, but I doubt it's going to last for the simple reason that some bright young person is going to bankrupt themselves (their company) to reach space and make 1 or more discovers that end up being worth billions. As for when this is going to occur... no idea, my guess was before now.

Space Elevators, or Mass Drivers are likely our only options in that regard, however a Space Elevator is a huge undertaking and is likely only going to be one in existence, also it can only exist on the equator, making most major powers unable to physically be in control of one, and mass drivers are physically huge by comparison, for one shuttle it would take about a dozen football stadiums long and a dedicated nuclear power plant attached to it to fire a shuttle sized craft fast enough to breach the atmosphere, and few countries have both the resources and the space to make that a reality.

You're thinking pure cost and that's the problem. Take a look around and see how many people are going into debt trying to get something they want. There isn't going to be only 1 of any of the choices because it would require people to trust each other & wait their turn.

Once there is a method in place however to reduce planetary exit costs prospectors will take another hard look at the final frontier.

The almighty dollar is what will bring humanity to space, not wanderlust or self preservation, but profit margins.

You might be surprised on that front. There are several companies that are trying to create a space vechicle for space tourism.

 

[Elissar]

No. think of all the molten rock below it... when you heat matter up it expands... Plus the fact that water in vapor form takes up 10 times the space it's liquid form does... All the surface water... plus the local water table, plus the heat of a super volcano = big friggin boom...

If that volcano goes off any time soon... i'm gonna be really pissed... There's a young very hot woman in western Canada that I want to fuck. I'd be very dissapointed if i dint get to tap that for at least a half hour..

 

[Maphusio]

So if it does go off, what makes it a global killer? The explosion itself or the ash?

I think its more than just one thing (as with all things in life). The ash would be dispersed through the upper atmosphere and rain down on the surrounding area. 2.1 million years ago the volcano in question blew tons of ash and rock into the sky as far as Texas.

Problem is that ash will then be carried around the world causing acid rain in some areas and even red snow in others (Italy via Laki in the 1700's?).

The resulting ash in the atmosphere could and most likely would block out the sun killing plant and animal life.

This is why this type of an eruption would be called a global killer.

Edit: Fade all ready got to this... oh well.

If it's the ash then there is no reason to move any other place where we can't breathe like the moon or mars. I'm sure they'd think of something on Earth for most people to survive.

Agreed. My point is one of urgency, I believe we the human race need to get off this rock as soon as humanly possible (I hope that's fast). This is essential for our survival. It's not like we are going to stop reproducing any time soon. It's not like this planet has an unlimited amount of supplies, the sooner we start venturing out there, the better for all of us.

For once I think I'm with Maphuiso

Sorry... at that point in your post the Cardigans - 'Closer to you' started playing... Call me

The almighty dollar is what will bring humanity to space, not wanderlust or self preservation, but profit margins.

Bingo, money is where it is at. Look at the money on the moon alone. Huge supplies of oxygen for return propellant (if chemical rockets are used). Large deposits of rare titanium $$$.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030829.html

Maphusio: 39 days?!? Under what conditions and how many people per launch are we talking about?

Excellent question. While researching this I came across this amazing quote regaurding a different type or propulsion.

"Can we make the radio waves that propel the ship jam to Jimmy Hendrix? Spread the love across the universe while exploring. "

Pwnage.

Back on track with your question though. The figure of 39 days is accounting for a vessel of 20 metric tones fueled by a nuclear power cell.
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/vasimr_rocket_020807-1.html

If that volcano goes off any time soon... i'm gonna be really pissed... There's a young very hot woman in western Canada that I want to fuck. I'd be very dissapointed if i dint get to tap that for at least a half hour..

Why is it that so many Canadian girls look so amazing? Is it the cold Canadian air? The French blood coursing through much of the populous' veins? Or is it a Canadian government Internet based conspiracy to get people wanting to move to Canada?

What ever the case... I enjoy the Canadian girl youtube video! hubba hubba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhYv7UYiuzs

And the song! Omargoodness is the best garage band that never really got noticed ever.