SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
A NASA plan to stop a supervolcano from erupting would also be a source of geothermal energy:
Beneath Yellowstone National Park is a giant volcano. The heat from this volcano powers all of the park's famous geysers and hot springs, so most tourists probably don't worry about having tons of hot magma under their feet. But perhaps they should: The Yellowstone supervolcano is a disaster waiting to happen.
The supervolcano erupts about every 600,000 years, and it's been about that long since the last eruption. That means the volcano could erupt any day now, and if it does it'll send enough dust and ash into the sky to blot out the sun for years, along with blowing a 25-mile-wide crater in the western U.S. That's why a group of NASA scientists and engineers are developing a plan to prevent an eruption by stealing the volcano's heat.
[...] NASA's plan is to drill a hole into the side of the volcano and pump water through it. When the water comes back out, it'll be heated to over 600 degrees, slowly cooling the volcano. The team hopes that given enough time, this process will take enough heat from the volcano to prevent it from ever erupting.
As a bonus, the scientists are proposing to use the heated water as a source of geothermal energy, potentially powering the entire Yellowstone region with heat from the volcano that wants to destroy it. A geothermal generator could produce energy at around $0.10 per kWh, competitive with other energy sources.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Monday August 21 2017, @11:47AM (4 children)
apparently, the supervolcano eruption could do quite a large amount of damage..
90K deaths in one story http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3189619/What-happen-Yellowstone-s-supervolcano-erupted-Experts-warn-90-000-immediate-deaths-nuclear-winter-US.html [dailymail.co.uk]
Or two thirds of the US devastated http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/prediction-23-of-u-s-could-be-devastated/ [wnd.com]
https://me.me/i/possible-yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption-kill-zone-primary-new-york-ash-15828120 [me.me]
Does self-preservation ever trump greenie-bashing in the US?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 21 2017, @12:05PM (2 children)
Most likely the super volcano was destined to go off during Trumps presidency as the United States celebrates its grand finale. It's been a great 240+ years. I for one welcome the end of America.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 21 2017, @05:00PM
In 2042, Yellowstone has still not erupted.
To put geological time scales into perspective, the last time Yellowstone erupted, Neanderthal man and Denisovan man had not yet evolved. Heidelberg man would have been affected by the explosion. From what I read, it sounds like such an eruption would make the year from hell seem like a cake walk. Man can destroy his cities in a day and blot out the sun for a year. Nature's power is yet an order of magnitude more.
By the time Yellowstone does finally go off again, we can hope that men will have taken yet another evolutionary step towards becoming angels.
Men go and come, but Earth abides. Even so, having a spare gas can is not a bad idea.
(Score: 3, Funny) by stretch611 on Monday August 21 2017, @06:14PM
Sounds true... after all, hurricane katrina happened during Bush's watch... mother nature has something special planned for Trump.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Monday August 21 2017, @09:03PM
Does self-preservation ever trump greenie-bashing in the US?
I thinkn you will fine Trump trumps self-preservation. Its the American way.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!