Recent crustal uplift in Yellowstone National Park

J.R. Pelton; R. B. Smith

doi:10.1126/science.206.4423.1179

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Recent crustal uplift in Yellowstone National Park

J.R. Pelton·R. B. Smith

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Abstract

Comparison of precise leveling measurements made in 1923 with those made in 1975, 1976, and 1977 reveals that the 600,000-year-old Yellowstone caldera is being uplifted relative to its surroundings. Maximum relative uplift since 1923 is in excess of 700 millimeters - about 14 millimeters vertically per year. The most likely cause of this rapid and unusually large surface deformation is a recent influx of molten or partially molten material to a location within the crust beneath Yellow-stone National Park.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 44.152107317931694° to 45.06520513911562° latitude; -111.11583743005758° to -109.4312596233894° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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J.R. Pelton, R. B. Smith. 1979. Recent crustal uplift in Yellowstone National Park. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.206.4423.1179

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