Supervolcanic eruption – overview (extract Global Catastrophic Risk report 2022)

Supervolcanic eruptions may happen at any time in the future, with catastrophic consequences. We are currently unable to anticipate volcanic eruptions beyond a few weeks or months in advance, but scientists are monitoring a number of areas, including Yellowstone in the US, which have been identified as potential sites of future supervolcanic eruptions. A supervolcanic eruption might be discovered a long time in advance, but require complex and considerably costly preparations to mitigate. Here we discuss the key factors affecting risk levels, and how much we know. Author: Stephen Sparks, University of Bristol.