Predicting the Future

Yellowstone lies in a semi-arid geographical region. In simplest terms this means that the demand of water is greater than the supply in any given area. This allows only the toughest of plant life to survive in the region. The climate of Yellowstone varies drastically throughout the year, potentially diving well below freezing in the winter months and high into the nineties during warmer months. Due to such cold temperatures the Glaciers of Yellowstone go through drastic changes as well which creates many of the wonderful water and landscape features you can find within.

Glacial Erratics are a common form of landscape left behind by Glaciers. Although many of Yellowstone's landforms are formed by Volcanic activity there are many such as the above Erratic that are formed from former Glaciation in the region.

image courtesy of: http://travellogs.us/Miscellaneous/Geology/Glacial%20erratics/Glacial%20Erratic.htm

Yellowstone also lies within a Rhyolite Caldera (a large crater-like hole), which was formed by the last explosion of the active super Volcano. The Super Volcano supplies the heat needed for Yellowstone’s biggest attractions; the geothermal activity.

Geothermal Activity in Yellowstone National Park fueled by the hot spot lying underneath the Earth's Surface

image courtesy of: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2010/10/could_yellowstone_power_my_home.html

The many defining features of Yellowstone can help us to predict what the area may look like in the future.

1,000 years

Yellowstone is filled with perennial meandering streams and rivers meaning these water features flow year round. Due to the processes of erosion and deposition the paths of the streams will likely change and move to other areas of the landscape.

Meandering river that runs through Yellowstone National Park. You can see deposited material making almost a beach like area along the inside of the first bend in the river and the cutbank on the opposite side. Throughout time this will continue and ultimately change the direction and course of the river.

image courtesy of:http://www.bigskyfishing.com/National_parks/yellowstone/yellowstone_river_park.htm

The plant life will also most likely change in 1,000 years due to the global climate change. We have already discovered a migration of Pine Trees as time has progressed and climates have changed locally. Pine trees rely heavily on colder temperatures. As temperatures in Yellowstone increase we can most likely find the pine trees migrating towards climates that are more suitable. If pattern continues this will be Northward.

10,000 years

In 10,000 years Yellowstone will encounter even further drastic changes. Currently Yellowstone has many beautiful falls throughout the Yellowstone River’s course. However, these most likely will not be existent in the next 10,000 years. Due to erosion and undercutting we can expect that eventually the stream will reach a point of equilibrium where the falls will no longer be there and the river will run smooth.

As you can see in the diagram as water flows over the falls small rocks and debri are carried along which nibbles away at the soft rock underneath the hard surface. Once it has nibble away enough the hard rock will break and collapse causing the waterfall to retreat further.

image courtesy of:http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=57d27ccb-1146-4214-a7d3-7f8ae880e754

We can also expect other landform changes from the rivers and streams. The Yellowstone now runs through the mountains creating a narrow V-shaped canyon. This canyon will most likely grow larger and wider with time from erosion and mass wasting along the steep slopes. Glaciation will also largely assist in widening the canyon. The ice that gets carried by the river will slowly start to round the sides of the canyon making it a parabolic canyon. 

This image depicts what Yellowstone Canyon currently looks like. Notice the V-shape.

image courtesy of: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_canyon_of_Yellowstone_and_Yellowstone_fall.jpg

The diagram above shows what could happen as the canyon Glaciates from hardened snow pack that doesn't completely melt in the warmer months. Eventually the glacier will nibble away at the steep slopes creating more of a porabolic shaped valley instead of the rigid V-shaped canyone we know now. 

image courtesy of:http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/GeolColBk/MtnGlaciers.htm

1,000,000 years

Within the next million years it is quite possible that Yellowstone’s Super volcano will erupt. In the case of this nearly every part of Yellowstone as we know it will be destroyed and covered by magma. There will no longer be the geothermal activity although as the hot spot continues to move it they may develop once again further Northeast of the current location.

Conclusion

It is safe to say that within the next million years Yellowstone will go through many drastic changes. Eventually Yellowstone will be nothing like the gem we know today. It will be given a chance to wipe free and rebuild to the glorious park it once was. 

References

1. http://www.livescience.com/28821-yellowstone-supervolcano-bigger-plume.html

2.Class lectures on glacial and fluvial lnadscapes, Volcanism and erosion/mass wasting

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu