A new scientific paper challenges the long-held theory that the Yellowstone supervolcano is fueled by a deep-seated mantle plume. Instead, the research suggests the volcanic system's immense power originates from the tectonic history of the North American continent.
The study posits that a now-vanished tectonic plate, which was once subducted beneath North America, created a pathway in the crust. This geological legacy, rather than a hot upwelling from the mantle's depths, may be the primary mechanism opening the crust and allowing magma to rise beneath Yellowstone.