The presence of a magma plume underneath Yellowstone was a theory for decades, but now two researchers from Texas believe they've found proof by using new imaging techniques.
Magma plumes are unusual geological features that are found at the boundary between the Earth's core and the mantle.
The steep difference in temperature between the magma plume and the surrounding crust caused the surface to contract over time, creating a pattern of fractures that provided a conduit for molten material to rise to the surface.
The resulting simulation matched the gravity signal recorded by GRAIL, supporting the idea that the Procellarum was caused by a magma plume, and not an asteroid.
Gravity makes the light liquid rock from a hotspot move slowly upwards like a bubble in water until it reaches the surface where the
magma plume will form a volcano.
However, two scientists, Peter Nelson and Stephen Grand from the University of Texas, claim they have found "strong evidence" that points to the presence of a massive
magma plume, underneath Yellowstone.
In the past, scientists believed that the Yellowstone super-volcano was powered by the
magma plumes coming from the core of our planet, much like most other volcanoes in different parts of the world.
Climbing
magma plumes decompressed as they rose toward the surface, lowering their temperature and buoyancy.
According to the researchers, the nickel shortage could have caused by a surge in the number of
magma plumes just before the nickel decline removed a large amount of heat from Earth's core.