New Model Suggests 'Mantle Wind' Powers Yellowstone Supervolcano
New Model Suggests 'Mantle Wind' Powers Yellowstone Supervolcano
US · Published Jun 28, 2026
Researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new three-dimensional model of western North America, revealing that Yellowstone's supervolcano is fueled by a 'mantle wind' rather than a deep mantle plume.
This mantle wind, a broad horizontal flow of hot rock in the Earth's upper mantle, is believed to transport magma from the shallow asthenosphere to the Yellowstone caldera.

Impact & Risks

The findings provide a new perspective on the processes that sustain supervolcanoes, which are capable of producing eruptions with far-reaching impacts on climate, ecosystems, and human societies. Understanding the role of mantle wind and magma mush systems could improve predictions of volcanic activity and help mitigate risks associated with supereruptions. Yellowstone, a key site for studying supervolcanoes, has experienced two supereruptions in the past 2.1 million years, underscoring the importance of this research.

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