posted on Apr, 18 2013 @ 11:42 PM
Although the Yellowstone volcano's continued existence is likely due to the upwelling of this hot plume, the plume may have become disconnected
from its heat source in Earth's core. "Disconnected, however, does not mean extinct," said Schutt. "It would be a mistake to write off Yellowstone as
a 'dead' volcano. A hot plume, even a slightly cooler one, is still hot."
Fair enough, but what mechanics are at play enabling the plume to maintain a temperature that helps the rock to remain molten? Anything disconnected
from the source that heats it begins to cool, and will continue to cool until reconnected to the heat source.
Ah, it's just occurred to me. Although possibly 'physically' disconnected from its heat source, it still sits like an air bubble above it, the
distance being just right for the plume to survive at molten level via heat conduction through the rock. If this were so, the top of the plume would
be slightly cooler than the bottom of the plume which is closer to the disconnected heat source. Herein may also lay the mechanism that leads to
cyclic supervolcanic eruption?
Every so often the 'disconnected' phase becomes a 're-connected' phase (to the heat source), allowing the plume to become super heated and expand
towards the surface by pressure from below, finally gaining exit along the weakest fracture points around the caldera shape? Re-connection could occur
via subduction seismic activity?
Furthermore; the earths spin would act centrifugally upon the plume, sloshing the plume's molten rock around, whilst gravitational pressure would be
greatest at the bottom of the plume, forcing it downward towards the earth's center, towards the heat source.
edit on 18/4/13 by elysiumfire
because: Made additional comment