Geography of Global Economy, Research Paper Example

Geography of Global Economy: Volcanic Activities in the Yellowstone Region

Introduction

Humans are affected and influenced by various factors that end up determining how they live (Lee, Kim & Kim, 2016). For instance, prolonged famine causes humans to change their way of life to adapt to the existing conditions created by the drought. The study of geography’s influence on human life is referred to geography economics. In most cases, geography economics is mainly done in a specific region where various aspects are analyzed according to the data collected on the geographical concept. Volcanic activities are common geographical concepts that have highly affected people’s living conditions mainly through displacing them. In the Yellowstone region, volcanic activities have significantly affected the human population through unpredictable eruptions that have caused the displacement of people from their residences (Namiki et al., 2018). Information from data and narration sources exemplify that volcanic activities in the region have caused a lack of permanent settlements or human activity due to the fear of eruptions. This research aims at identifying relevant data on volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region, followed by evaluating and analyzing the effects of the given geographical event on human life.

Overview of Volcanic Activities in the Yellowstone Region

The Yellowstone region is a large area that is under an active volcanic state. It is made up of some lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges. Various mountain ranges in the region have proven to be active volcanos with frequent and unpredictable eruptions. The Yellowstone Caldera is the most notable geographical element in the region, which is the second largest super volcano in the North American continent (Yellowstone Geology, 2019). As well, lakes in the Yellowstone region are found on high altitudes where the Yellowstone Lake has been ranked as the principal high-altitude lake in North America. Even so, the Yellowstone region is an important area in the history of human life. It is mainly occupied by a national park, which hosts a variety of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles (UNESCO, 2019). Tourism in the park is enhanced by the geographic scenery in the region that comprises some unique lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, and canyons. The area does not have any permanent settlement since it has unpredictable volcanic activity. Animal species have also been threatened by the same eruptions where some of the species have been termed as extinct as a result of such activities.

The Yellowstone Caldera has erupted several times over the last 1 million years. Eruptions from the caldera have been cited for being one of the most dangerous ones since they happen with great force, thus covering a large area. Volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region has also been experienced through some geysers (Yellowstone Geology, 2019). Hydrothermal features in water towers have been seen as a result of volcanic actions. The active nature of volcanic activities in the region has kept everyone away since the activities occur abruptly without any prediction. Human life is mostly affected by the volcanic eruptions since lava from the calderas in the mountain ranges flows a large distance covering almost all the land in the Yellowstone region (Lee et al., 2016). The volcanic activities have made the Yellowstone region to receive publicity and even be named UNESCO world heritage site due to the unpredictability of eruptions that makes up the ecosystem in the region unique.

The only prediction on volcanic activity that can be made in the Yellowstone region is through identifying the violent nature of eruptions. This fact has been the sole reason why the region lacks human settlement. People only visit the region’s national park during winter when volcanic activity is less likely to occur (Namiki et al., 2018). The geographical presentation of volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region shows how human life and visitation to the region is affected.

Investigation Using Data Sources

Information on the Yellowstone region’s volcanic activities has been broadly documented in data sites to create awareness on the area. Even though the region is in the Northwest area of the US, its volcanic activity has been largely felt across the North American continent. Data sources on the volcanic activity explain how the region’s human life interaction has been on the receiving end due to the active nature of eruptions.

The first volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region was experienced about 2.1 million years ago where caldera-forming eruptions occurred, initiating volcanicity in the area (UN Museum, 2019). The active nature of volcanic activities in the region has contributed to more than thirty lava flows and about one thousand to two thousand earthquakes per year.

According to UN’s museum, the volcano is the highly marked one in the history due to the flow of lava in an area by covering three thousand square miles, which is the rough area that is referred to as the Yellowstone region (UN Museum, 2019). Lava, in the form of two hundred and forty cubic miles of hot ash and pumice, has been recorded. The data on historical volcanic lava flow illustrates that the region’s volcanic activity occurred with massive force.

Geysers in the region have been the common volcanic activity manifestations where more than ten thousand thermal features exist in the area where they can occur. Geysers occur in the form of steamboats. As recorded by the USGS, geysers occur every year. In 2018, a total of thirty-two steamboats occurred (USGS, 2019). So far, in 2019, ten geysers have been experienced. USGS keeps records on the number of eruptions and geysers to help in analyzing volcanic activity in the region.

Below is a map illustrating the Yellowstone volcanic region

Figure 1: Volcanic region in Yellowstone (https://yellowstone.net/geology/volcano/)

Investigation Using Narrative Sources

Narrative sources offer explanations and theoretical data on the volcanic nature of the Yellowstone region. According to the US National Park Service, the Yellowstone volcanic activity can be explained using the unpredicted underground movements (NPS, 2019). Tectonic Plates’ drifts in the region are experienced where hot spots in the plates trigger volcanic activity. Heat melts the rocks in the crust. As a result, two magma chambers are formed with partially molten lava and partially rocks. Volcanic eruptions in the Yellowstone region occur when heat from the shallowest magma chamber forces magma to expand and rise.

National Park Service has also offered a narration on how earthquakes in the region are prone. Tectonic Plates in the area experience pressure, especially from heat and magma expansion. Stress on the overlying crest triggers movement of the plates further. The movement consequently causes earthquakes (NPS, 2019). As a result, earthquakes cause fault lines that become magma chambers. As well, the fault lines become areas of weaknesses where geysers are experienced as a result of heating of steam in the region.

Figure 2: Yellowstone Calderas and Domes (https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/volcano.htm)

According to National Geographic, volcanic activities in the Yellowstone have been highly active. Even though no volcanic eruptions have happened in a thousand years, frequent earthquakes and geysers illustrate active underground movements that lead to volcanicity (National Geographic, 2019). Earthquake swarms in the Yellowstone region uphold the fact that the region is increasingly becoming volcanic active.

Analysis of the Geographic Activity on the Foundation of Sources Obtained

Data, both qualitative and quantitative, clarify the rising nature of volcanic activities in the Yellowstone region. Human life has been highly influenced by these activities where the earthquakes and geysers over recent years have attracted a large number of tourists. As well, the data has helped in illustrating how the region has been used to study volcanic activities (Lee et al., 2016). An in-depth analysis on the data obtained conclusively shows that the unpredictability of volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region has influenced human settlements negatively and tourism positively (where people are cautious while visiting the area with many stopovers recorded during winter).

Conclusion

Human beings are affected in various ways by geographical factors prompting them to adjust their living conditions. Thus, geographical aspects influence human life as regards economics. The Yellowstone region volcanic activities are unique illustrations of the geographic economy. Human life has been actively affected by the active volcanic nature of the region. By ranging from earthquakes to geysers and volcanic eruptions, the region has been a red flag region for settlements. As well, tourism has largely been influenced in the region through visitations only during winter. Volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region is, therefore, a unique illustration of how geographical mapping influences human activates and lives.

References

Lee, K., Kim, S., & Kim, S. (2016). Simulating floods triggered by volcanic activities in the Cheon-ji caldera lake for hazards and risk analysis. Journal Of Flood Risk Management, 11(1), S479-S488. doi: 10.1111/jfr3.12245

Namiki, A., Rivalta, E., Woith, H., Willey, T., Parolai, S., & Walter, T. (2018). Volcanic activities triggered or inhibited by resonance of volcanic edifices to large earthquakes. Geology, 47(1), 67-70. doi: 10.1130/g45323.1

National Geographic. (2019). Earthquake Swarms Are Shaking Yellowstone’s Supervolcano. Here’s What That Means. Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/yellowstone-national-park-supervolcano-earthquake-swarms-spd/

NPS. (2019). Volcano – Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/volcano.htm

UN Museum. (2019). The UN Museum: Yellowstone Super-Volcano. Retrieved from http://www.unmuseum.org/supervol.htm

UNESCO. (2019). Yellowstone National Park. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/28

USGS. (2019). USGS: Volcano Hazards Program YVO Yellowstone. Retrieved from https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/yellowstone_sub_page_54.html

Yellowstone Geology. (2019). Volcano. Retrieved from https://yellowstone.net/geology/volcano/