What formed the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field?

The Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field is a complex volcanic region located primarily in Wyoming, extending into Idaho and Montana. Driven by an underlying continental hotspot and mantle plume, the region has experienced over 110 eruptions and three major caldera-forming supereruptions over the past two million years. Today, it hosts the world's greatest concentration of hydrothermal features, supported by active magma chambers.

What we know

• The Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field is located mostly in Wyoming while stretching into Idaho and Montana. [2, 3]
• Volcanism in the field began around 2 to 2.15 million years ago and has proceeded through major volcanic cycles. [2, 3]
• Three major caldera-forming eruptions created the Huckleberry Ridge Caldera, the Henrys Fork Caldera, and the Yellowstone Caldera. [2, 3]
• The Yellowstone Caldera features resurgent domes called Sour Creek and Mallard Lakes and contains the world's greatest concentration of hydrothermal features. [2]

Still open

• Sources vary slightly on whether volcanism began precisely at 2 million years ago or 2.15 million years ago.

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat is the Yellowstone hotspot?
• how it workedHow do hydrothermal systems operate in Yellowstone?
• whenWhat was the Huckleberry Ridge Caldera eruption?
• how we knowHow does the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory monitor the region?
• compared withWhat is the Cima volcanic field?
• an unexpected connectionHow does volcanism connect to the park's wildlife and forests?The underlying volcanic heat and hydrothermal activity directly shape the biomes, geysers, and ecosystems that support Yellowstone's famous megafauna and forests.

Sources

• [1]Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field (Wikidata Q8051994) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Yellowstone Caldera · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Yellowstone National Park · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Cima volcanic field · CC BY-SA 4.0