Will the USA still be a superpower when it is wiped out by the Yellowstone super volcano?

Question

The Yellowstone supervolcano is overdue for an eruption, and its previous eruptions have been catasrophic. However, since the frequency of its eruptions are once every 65000 years are so, it could remain "overdue" for hundreds (if not thousands) of more years.

Answer 1

The various Naval Fleets are immune to that kind of damage (just like the devestation wrought by a potential nuclear war)

So militarily, the US will be a superpower no matter what.

Economically, not so much.

But then again, with a big enough military the option to simply take what is not yours certainly exists.

Bottom line, America is always going to be a major if not THE major player on Earth

Answer 2

Apparently you are a doomsayer and predicting the end of life on earth and few nations or perhaps no nations would surive. Even if it did erupt, the only areas in jeopardy from the lava flow would be the surrounding states and these would be protected by a large extent by the mountains. Atmospheric ash would be the major problem and could lead to an Ice age and depending on the length of the eruption, the ice cap could extend even further than the previous ice cap which could pass below 40 degrees North latitude which would include a large part of the northerm hemisphere and essentially all of Europe, Russia and about 1/3 of China. The areas that are tropical and sub-tropical would be dramatically changed and with the climate shift, most plant life would be destroyed. Directly by the cold but also by the sulfur dioxide and being smothered by the ash. With the ensuing cold, marine life would not do well and perhaps with the quantity of various gases, the oceans would have a shift in the pH and marine life requires an alkaline evironment but SO2 acidifies. However there are no indications that such an eruption will take place, and volcanoes are notorious for being unreliable. While there are many active volcanoes in the world, the activity has not remarkably changed which would indicate a build-up in pressure. The tectonic plate activity related to the magma pressure is not out of proportion to historic activity.

Answer 3

Great, Great, Question!!! It's one I often thought about. Sadly, the answer is no! Here's why:
1) The USA and much of the world will suffer a dramatic loss in human population due to instant death or death by decades of health related issues & the fact that there will be little sunlight for plant growth and for any other type of growth.

2) Economically we will be "cleaned out". There will be no way to recoup what we lost within our Nations infrastructure (roads,power,rail,manufacting etc..) and the Military.

3) This is actually the most important. = HISTORY = Yes, History, The class no one liked in high school (but me). Look here, Yellow stone blows every 600,000 years. That's a fact! Scientist know this. Right now we are at 630,000 years. Overdue! Plus let's look at every great Nation/Societies. at one time the Greeks Alexander the Great ruled, The Mongolans, The Romans, and many others. Look at their fate now. It all comes to an end. Check out this great link about these and other Empires

Answer 4

Alright the thing about "super volcanoes" is the fact that once it erupts no one will be safe. The United States will be wiped out no doubt, and for the rest of the world they will be put into nuclear winter and a lot of deaths will occur, the concern about superpower will not matter, it will be a matter of survival. Plus if it did go off you and I would not exist, so i would not be concerned with this. It is called a super volcano for a reason.

Answer 5

NO: it is not risky to the Earth. The Earth is an sizeable ball of be counted coasting around the solar. Volcanoes won't regulate that. particular: It would not reason the extinction of human beings on earth, evidenced with the help of the actuality that it has erupted thrice interior the final 2.one million million years devoid of killing all of us. notwithstanding, an eruption in Yellowstone national Park could thoroughly harm our civilization (the international as all of us be attentive to it). .

Answer 6

1. nuclear subs would not be affected until they run out of supplies. We would still be able to project nuclear deterrence.

2. A full eruption of the Yellowstone caldera would be a global event. Everyone would be screwed, not just the USA.

Answer 7

Bush has the "football"...the Navy ships are still out to sea...Cheyenne Mountain will likely be safe...so, yeah, we'd still have some clout.

TeeHee...Is this really the kind of stuff that keeps you up at night?

Answer 8

Than its not really overdue is it?

Yay level 3!

Answer 9

We 'll worry about that , in say a thousand years .

Answer 10

It's not going to be that big a pop, dude.