Yellowstone and the Cross Country Rift

The Yellowstone Supervolcano has been in the news lately (link). It is noted that the earthquake swarm now happening at Yellowstone is one of the largest ever recorded. But, there is one thing that this sporadic blogger has noted about the Yellowstone hotspot.

An article from the December 17, 1981 edition of the Spokane Daily Chronicle, which is linked here, includes a map which indicates the general location of a large (or rather, very large), ancient rift. This ancient rift cuts diagonally across the United States --- from the state of Georgia to the state of Washington. Now, there is something worth noting on this map.

Look at the state of Wyoming (WYO.) on this map. Observe how the diagonal line (the general location of the great rift) passes through the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming. So, what is important about this northwest corner of Wyoming. Yes, that is the location of Yellowstone National Park --- or more clearly, the Yellowstone Supervolcano.

To this sporadic blogger, it does appear that the Yellowstone Supervolcano may, in some way, be associated with the giant cross country rift. It appears that the Yellowstone Supervolcano is associated with this zone of weakness which extends deep into the continental crust. But, there is more to this story. From Yellowstone, this cross country rift (or zone of weakness) heads generally northwest, into the state of Washington.

Now, the blogger's research has led him to believe that the giant rift in Washington state continues in its westerly course, beneath the thick basalt flows of the Columbia River Lava Plateau. The blogger believes that the giant rift then exits the continental landmass on the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the form of that deep submarine canyon called the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Once again, let us note that, from the blogger's research, it appears that the zone of weakness (the giant rift) extends from the Yellowstone Supervolcano to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Now for some questions.

Should the Yellowstone Supervolcano experience a massive earthquake or a huge eruption, could it trigger a Cascadia Megaquake as a result of energy transferred via the giant rift? On the other hand, could a massive Cascadia Megaquake, as a result of energy transferred via the giant rift, trigger a devastating Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption?




For further reading:

Current Expectations for a Cascadia Mega-Quake
https://cascadian.neocities.org/cascadiaquake.htm