Scientists share concerns over US supervolcano that could cause 'civilization-ending eruption'

Scientists have shared their thoughts on a huge supervolcano in the US that has seen an uptick in activity.

Located in eastern California, the Long Valley volcano is one of only about 20 supervolcanoes in the entire world.

Unlike world-saving superheroes, 'supervolcanoes' are actually all about destruction as the term relates to volcanoes which have at one point erupted more than 240 cubic miles of material.

The Long Valley Caldera stretches for miles. (George Rose/Getty Images)

Long Valley formed about 760,000 years ago with a 'super-eruption', when hot ash settled to become what's known as a caldera.

Rather than the mountain-shaped volcanoes we typically picture, caldera are characterized by sprawling depressions. The Long Valley Caldera is 20 miles long, 11 miles wide and approximately 3,000 feet deep - so it's no surprise that it could do some damage if it erupted.

Thankfully the volcano hasn't released another super-eruption at the level that formed it, but scientists have become concerned in recent decades after Long Valley saw an uptick in earthquake activity in the 1980s.

Researchers have noted creeks and hot springs that appear to be coming to life at the Long Valley Caldera, which could be an indication that something could be about to blow beneath the surface.

Discussing the impacts of a potential eruption, Michael Poland, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey, told NBC News that when it comes to supervolcanoes, 'the first thing people think is that there’s going to be a civilization-ending eruption'.

While an eruption at Long Valley wouldn't take out the entire civilization of the planet, an eruption of more than 240 cubic miles of material would be enough to cover California's 163,696 square miles.

There has been an uptick in activity in recent decades. (George Rose/Getty Images)

However, while Poland acknowledged that you 'can have an impactful explosion' at volcanos like Long Valley, 'the vast majority are smaller eruptions with less explosive lava flows'.

In 2017, scientist Rob Nelson, discussed what he described as 'alarming signs of possible volcanic activity' at Long Valley.

"There are clues pointing towards an imminent eruption scattered throughout this valley — the site of the second largest explosive volcanic eruption in North America," he said at the time.

Thankfully those signs haven't resulted in an eruption yet, and in 2023 research scientist Ettore Biondi and his team did some research to try and understand the activity in Long Valley.

An eruption could have huge impacts. (Getty Stock Photo)

Using fiber-optic cables to gather acousting sensing data, the researchers found that a solid rock structure appears to be covering the magma chamber at Long Valley.

While an eruption still can't be ruled out completely, the researchers noted that the structure could be preventing big eruptions from occurring.

Per NBC News, Biondi said: “That doesn’t imply that you can’t have smaller eruptions, but from a supervolcanic eruption perspective, I think as of now we are on the safe side."