The volcanic eruption would NOT destroy the entire united states mainland. The blast would however, leave a creator 600 sq. miles in diameter. It would also cause massive global fallout as millions of tons of ash rained down all over the world, crushing buildings and poisoning the air. The global temperature would drop at least 20 degrees nearly everywhere, and depending on the time of year, there would be lots of hell freezing over, so to speak.

@ Nic Durron - if you look at the Mayan calender it actually does not end at 2012. yes one of the Long Dates or whatever its called ends, but the last day listed is in the year 4k something. I do not believe it will end in 2012. Probably just a major disaster.

@ Faulk - you are correct. I exaggerated when I said obliterate, I meant to state that most of the inhabitants would die from either the ash, freezing, the volcano itself, or starvation. Plus the water would get acid in it so many people will die from that or dehydration.

Would be all out ciaos needless to say.

~SM

If this so called "super-volcano" does erupt, nearly all of the american population will die, either by the blast or suffocating. Furthermore I think some of asia will be affected by the ash cloud, and that personally i think 30-40% of the plants population will die or be seriously injured and that 70-90% of the population will be affected by the ash cloads in one way or another. Correct me if Im wrong but this would cause earthquakes too and maybe, I think be one of the causes of the extintion of hundreds of different species, maybe including the human race.

[Edited by captainkirk, 5/18/2010 3:20:41 PM]

I agree

Like I originally stated, if a volcano in India with only 150k tons of ash and debris will cover England in ash, then a couple mill would probably cover a few continents.

~SM

I slightly agree but, the human race has got through many disaterous times, but how would be be able to cope with this. If the volcano gave off more ash than expected it would, well I think, change the climate, and would we be able to cope with something like that. If it blocked off the sun we would propably freeze to death. I am not saying it would be the alone cause of the extinction, but, lets say the volcano goes off in 2012, yes it would probably anihalate most of the USA and some of russia, but think of the consequences. Earthquakes which could then cause tsunamis. Starvation because of lack of sun to crops. Massive drouts because of water being undrinkable. This would cause hundreds of problems and if it did happen in 2012. I think we would be gone within a few decades, maybe not even that.

Got a couple of buckets of water ready?

Maybe I should be prepared, I live 6 hours from a supervolcano which is apparently overdue for an eruption. But then, so does most of the population of NZ so we're screwed if it goes up lol.

But perhaps we could live like in that movie, the city of ember? Underground I mean, it would shelter people from the ashes, and underground its always a constant temperature. But then there is the danger of cave in's, food and water.