The Impact of Supervolcanoes on Earth's Climate and Human Evolution

The video discusses the potential eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano and compares it to the Toba supervolcano eruption 75,000 years ago. The Toba eruption had a significant impact on the global climate and human evolution, possibly causing a genetic bottleneck. However, recent studies question the extent of its climatic effects. The Toba eruption was one of the largest known, with a volcanic explosivity index of 8, releasing massive amounts of ash and sulfur dioxide, forming Lake Toba.

What percentage of molten rock is present in the Yellowstone caldera, making a supereruption unlikely?

• 15-20%

• 6-8%

• 2-4%

• 10-12%

How many megacolossal supereruptions have occurred on Earth over the past 132 million years?

• 60

• 40

• 20

• 80

What was the estimated duration of the volcanic winter triggered by the Toba supereruption?

• 1-2 years

• 3-5 years

• 6-10 years

• 11-15 years

What is the genetic bottleneck theory related to the Toba supereruption?

• A theory about the increase in volcanic activity

• A theory about the formation of new species

• A theory about the reduction in human population

• A theory about the extinction of dinosaurs

How many breeding humans are believed to have survived the Toba supereruption?

• 10,000

• 5,000

• 1,000

• 500

What did archaeologists find in Lake Malawi that was linked to the Toba supereruption?

• A layer of glassy volcanic ash

• Fossils of extinct animals

• Ancient human tools

• Evidence of a volcanic winter

What is the volcanic explosivity index of the Toba supereruption?

• 9

• 8

• 7

• 6

How much ejecta volume was produced by the Toba supereruption?

• 1,000 cubic kilometres

• 4,000 cubic kilometres

• 2,800 cubic kilometres

• 3,500 cubic kilometres

What was the thickness of the ash layer deposited by the Toba supereruption in South Asia?

• 5 centimetres

• 15 centimetres

• 10 centimetres

• 20 centimetres

What natural feature was formed as a result of the Toba supereruption?

• Mount Everest

• Lake Toba

• Grand Canyon

• Sahara Desert