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AI Uncovers 86,000 Hidden Yellowstone Quakes
Supervolcano’s Seismic Activity Revealed by Advanced Technology
Artificial intelligence has pinpointed over 86,000 previously undetected seismic events beneath Yellowstone National Park, significantly expanding our understanding of the colossal supervolcano’s subsurface rumblings. This breakthrough came from a collaborative international research effort, with findings published in July 2025.
Unprecedented Seismic Detection
Utilizing 15 years of seismic data, researchers employed machine learning to trace activity deep within Yellowstone’s volatile geological structure. The AI system managed to identify ten times more earthquakes than traditional manual methods. A total of 86,276 seismic events were recorded between 2008 and 2022.
Bing Li, a technical professor at Western Ontario University and lead researcher, stated, If we have to do it the old way, the scalability is inadequate.
The study, published in the journal *Science Advances*, was a joint effort between Western Ontario University, Universidad Industrial de Santander in Colombia, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Nature of the Detected Quakes
A majority of the newly identified earthquakes were categorized as small seismic swarms, characterized by numerous tremors occurring rapidly within a limited area. Notably, these events were observed along immature and rough fault lines, distinguishing them from the larger, more commonly recognized faults in regions like Southern California.
Yellowstone’s Supervolcano Status
Yellowstone, renowned as the oldest national park in the United States, is also recognized as one of the world’s largest supervolcanoes. A supervolcano, defined by its potential to trigger earthquakes of magnitude 8 or greater on the Volcanic Explosive Index, draws significant scientific attention due to its sheer scale and critical geographic positioning.
The caldera of this supervolcano spans across Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, a vast region harboring immense geological power. For perspective on seismic activity, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that the Yellowstone region experiences an average of 1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes annually, though most are too small to be felt.
