A recent study by the USGS suggests that magma beneath the Yellowstone Caldera, one of Earth’s largest volcanic complexes, is shifting northeast. Researchers believe this movement could fuel further activity in the area where a “rhyolitic melt” is stored. The basalt regions within the caldera are slowly moving towards the upper crust, where heat is being diffused.
The study used magnetotelluric technique to examine magma distribution beneath the caldera and found seven high-magma focus areas between 4-47 kilometers deep. While this movement raises concerns about potential future eruptions, more research is needed to estimate when the northeastern magma reservoir might erupt.
Located in northwestern Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park is a large crater with parts also extending into Montana and Idaho. The USGS warns that further study is essential to better understand and predict any potential volcanic activity.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/science/article-835794