Study Suggests Yellowstone Supervolcano Fueled by 'Mantle Wind'
Study Suggests Yellowstone Supervolcano Fueled by 'Mantle Wind'
US · Published Jun 28, 2026
A new study published in the journal 'Science' challenges the traditional view that Yellowstone's supervolcano is powered by a deep mantle plume.
Researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have proposed that the magma beneath Yellowstone is supplied by a 'mantle wind,' a broad underground flow of hot rock moving through the upper mantle beneath North America.

Impact & Risks

The study's findings could reshape our understanding of how supervolcanoes like Yellowstone function and evolve. Supervolcanoes are capable of producing catastrophic eruptions that can release over 1,000 cubic kilometers of magma, with significant impacts on global climate, ecosystems, and human societies. Understanding the mechanisms behind magma generation and storage is crucial for predicting and mitigating the risks associated with such eruptions.

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