Yellowstone erupts on D-Day

Ok so the infamous supervolcano erupts on the 6th of June 1944,and it is a true supervolcanic eruption with the Pyroclastic Flow annihalating thousands of kilometres and up to an inch of ash if not more falling an Washington and countless other cities.

How does this affect the world and the war reminded that this could trigger Global cooling.

The US has to pull back most, if not all, of its troops to restore order. The Soviet Union, meanwhile, will sweep across Germany and come to dominate all of Europe, and will soon be the superpower of the world, but with much of the western hemisphere desolate with ash this won't be much of a mean feat. Japan, meanwhile, will take the opportunity to regroup and settle as the power of East Asia. However, with global climate all screwed up, its' looking like a crapsack world in every sense.

There were a lot of Army Divisions that were still getting stood up in the U.S. that wouldn't make it to Europe until December '44-March '45. It really depends on the manpower needed to restore order, but I don't think it would have been necessary to pull units back from across the Atlantic to get the job done.

The logistics job for the Pacific Theater would get a lot more interesting.

embittered redleg said:

There were a lot of Army Divisions that were still getting stood up in the U.S. that wouldn't make it to Europe until December '44-March '45. It really depends on the manpower needed to restore order, but I don't think it would have been necessary to pull units back from across the Atlantic to get the job done.

The logistics job for the Pacific Theater would get a lot more interesting.

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Remember, most of the US has been devastated, so I can't imagine anything short of anarchy. And just think how catastrophic this'll be on morale.

Not just the US - that volcano guarantees one hell of a nuclear winter effect for the northern hemisphere - those soviet divisions are going to spend a lot less time worrying about Germany and a lot more time trying to push south to the Med.

This ends up similar to a later version of the Peshawar Lancers' Fall. You've taken out the US, and savaged agricultural production in the northern hemisphere for a decade or more.

I think the best thing for the various nations to do would be to pull back and fortify their borders and try and ride out the shit-storm that's coming their way. The way it pans out also depends on the wind, if it's blowing from the East, them America would be less damaged, but Japan and maybe even some of Russia would be in the shit. Blowing west, scratch out the USA, period.

As for the climate, it would get colder, a lot colder. It's debatable who'd be the most fucked. The USSR would probably survive, they are used to cold and are ruthless enough to cull its way through the major famine on it's way. Nazi Germany might survive, but only if they tighten their borders back to at least 1914 and not do something stupid like try and attack Russia again (this winter's going to be a killer). They are certainly ruthless enough to cut their population down to what they can reasonably support.
Britain... debatable. The Empire is over, and it will be very isolated. Since it will be very hard to trade, the famine will really hit them hard. Weather on the isle will be more dismal than could be imagined.
For Japan it matters which way the wind's blowing, as I said. If the ash cloud doesn't hit them, they'll still be in the UK position. It is possible they migth decide to hold China and us it's resources to feed the home Island, but that would be nearly impossible to pull off.

In most cases, WW2 would be offically over as all sides scramble to salvage what they can. Anyone still stupid enough to keep fighting (ie, Mr Hitler) would be dead as a very dead things rather quickly.

The Event:June 6th 1944

In Febuary scientists in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (Y.V.O), present to a crowd on Yellowstone's seismic activity. They state during the presentation, that Yellowstone is on the verge of an eruption, though neither major nor hazardous.

Throughout March, more and more signs of seismic activity occur, all indicating towards the imminent eruption of Yellowstone (such as geyser explosions, earthquakes, tsunamis and Old Faithful going silent). Geologists and the federal government try to avoid public panic by saying that these seismic activities do not necessarily indicate an imminent volcanic eruption. However, media speculation raises public alarm. As seismic activity increases, a leaked government letter acknowledging a possible eruption causes widespread panic.

America is caught by surprise when the volcano violently erupts, spewing tonnes of rock and pyroclastic material into the sky. Most people within a thousand miles of Yellowstone are killed or injured as a result of attempting to outrun the pyroclastic flow.

Tension begins to rise as more and more vents open above the underlying magma chamber throughout the week-long eruption. People are literally being drowned in the volcanic ash and the death toll rises to hundreds of thousands. Slowly, authorities begin to realise the seriousness of this problem. Very soon, the authorities become desperate, trying to find a way to save the trapped Americans in the central and western half of the country. In Washington many researchers worry that even after 2,500 cubic km of magma had come out, that it could still go on because Yellowstone has a maximum capacity of 25,000 cubic kilometers, ten times the amount already ejected and that the entire caldera could explode after the collapse. Luckily, things take a better turn just as all hope is nearly lost: the caldera collapses upon itself, indicating the decrease in pressure within the magma chamber, and it doesn't explode.

As it turns out, the eruption ends with three-quarters of the United States covered in nearly one centimeter of volcanic ash on average as a looming cloud of suspended, lighter ash gets carried over the globe, engulfing the northern hemisphere of Earth, and as a result, plunging it into a volcanic winter. The southern hemisphere however, gets a dose of the ice age while the rest of it is in drought.

After one week 200,000,000 americans are without electricity and without food without any hope of help. Mexico and Canada face millions of refugees. Mexico allows in around a million before closing its border. Canada allows in more than three time that before closing hers. Millions of Americans set up camps on these borders, others desperately head to the east. But with ash raining down around fifty million simply cannot leave there homes.

In a fortnight 100 million are dead through the blast, ash, starvation, or suffocation. All airspace in the USA has to be cleared, the US has lost all power, the farmbelt suffers the worst harvest ever with around only 0.1% of crops and livestock survive. The east coast is clogged with refugees and this shows no signs of stopping.

After three weeks those three quarters of the USA are experiencing societal collapse. Massive riots begin all over America. In a bunker in Florida the government declares martial law...

The Red,

One centimeter of ash? The last Yellowstone Eruption covered areas as far away as Nova Scotia with an ash fall measuring in meters.

You're not talking about the "death" of the United States here. You're talking about the death of human civilization. The effect on WW2 is moot.


Bill

volcanic ash knows no borders

Why would Canada be accepting refugees? I doubt that the volcanic ash from a Yellowstone eruption of that size would stop at the Canadian border. Canada would be as hard hit as anywhere else in the northern hemisphere, possibly even more so due to its close proximity to Yellowstone. After all, northern Wymonig is not all that far from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Bill Cameron said:

The Red,

One centimeter of ash? The last Yellowstone Eruption covered areas as far away as Nova Scotia with an ash fall measuring in meters.

You're not talking about the "death" of the United States here. You're talking about the death of human civilization. The effect on WW2 is moot.


Bill

Click to expand...

Good point Bill but you have to remember that the last Yellowstone deposited 25,000 Cubic km of Magma,this eruption is only 5% of that.

gougeaway said:

Why would Canada be accepting refugees? I doubt that the volcanic ash from a Yellowstone eruption of that size would stop at the Canadian border. Canada would be as hard hit as anywhere else in the northern hemisphere, possibly even more so due to its close proximity to Yellowstone. After all, northern Wymonig is not all that far from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

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There not exactly putting up 'Welcome to Canada' banners but this is the amount that managed to get in before the Canadian Arm got control of the border.

Interesting idea. Very good.

I'd like to point out that the volcanic winter on the Northern Hemisphere could also threaten the USSR's internal stability; cold temperatures will likely lead to something like the premise of Red Dawn (poor Ukrainian grain harvest). I doubt anyone will flee to Canada, which is just as hard hit by the cold as the USA if not more.

Polish Eagle said:

Interesting idea. Very good.

I'd like to point out that the volcanic winter on the Northern Hemisphere could also threaten the USSR's internal stability; cold temperatures will likely lead to something like the premise of Red Dawn (poor Ukrainian grain harvest). I doubt anyone will flee to Canada, which is just as hard hit by the cold as the USA if not more.

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Based off a special I saw on Yellowstone the US would be totally infertile from all the ash, but Canada could still farm, even if it's cold. Not much though. I say this ends an Inuit-wank.

The volcanic winter would cut the average global temperature by a couple of degrees for something like 5 years, dropping crop yields and bringing the cost of feeding the entire population up by an order of magnitude - lower yields, clearing ash, large-scale shipments, medical costs for food-borne illness go up, etc. (see Wikipedia articles on nuclear winter, volcanic winter, and 'Year without a summer' - they summarize and cite much of the relevant literature). It probably would stop most of the military activity, but given WWII rationing was already pretty strict, it might not cause a catastrophic collapse of society.

In the interests of realism, please be aware that the 1920's-1950's was a relatively quiet period in the activity of the Yellowstone region, so making a catastrophic eruption happen on such a day may verge into ASB territory.

The Red said:

Good point Bill but you have to remember that the last Yellowstone deposited 25,000 Cubic km of Magma,this eruption is only 5% of that.

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The Red,

Five, ten, fifteen, or twenty percent, it doesn't matter. You've unleashed a volcanic winter in the Northern Hemisphere and human civilization is in peril. WW2 is the least of anyone's concerns.

You simply don't have a sufficient grasp of either geology or geography to do justice to this What If?. For example, you have US citizens fleeing in huge numbers to Canada until the border is somehow closed by Canadian troops. I'll ask you what part of Canada are they fleeing to and how are they getting there.

Just as most of the US population was east of the Mississippi at this time, the Canada of the period essentially consisted of Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. All three of those regions are directly in the path of your ash plume with Toronto is actually further south than Yellowstone and Ottawa slightly north. The ash is going to effect Canada as much as the US and your refugees will simply be moving from one disaster to another.

Also, seeing as fuel was rationed at the time, just how the refugees will get to where they're going, whether it be Canada or Mexico, is another question you've completely failed to address.

You want a disaster to knock the US out of the war for whatever reason but the disaster you've chosen is simply too big. It's going to effect all the other combatants too, and not because the US is no longer in the picture either.

If you're looking for a geological POD for your US out of WW2 in June 1944 let me suggest disasters that will effect the US alone and not trash the planet as a whole:

- A 1944 version of the New Madrid Earthquakes of December 1811 and January 1812. A repeat of earthquakes of 8.0 or greater on the Richter scale centered on Missouri will disrupt transportation and manufacturing across a wide portion of the Mid-West while also killing tens of thousands in the region and severely damaging cities.

- One or more volcanic eruptions in the Cascades will adversely effect aircraft production in the Northwest, shipyards, and the Hanaford breeder reactors needed for the Manhattan Project.

- The collapse of tropical volcanic islands is thought to result in directionally focused mega-tsunamis. The big island of Hawaii shed an Everest-sized chunk during human history that is believed to have resulted in a kilometer high wave impacting the US West coast. The island of La Palma in the Canaries is currently the best suspect for this type of event and it's collapse would send a mega-tsunami heading for the US East Coast.

There are several geological mechanisms that can produce the catastrophe you're looking for. However, the Yellowstone super volcano is not one of them.


Bill

Skull Bearer said:

Isupport.
Britain... debatable. The Empire is over, and it will be very isolated. Since it will be very hard to trade, the famine will really hit them hard. Weather on the isle will be more dismal than could be imagined.

Click to expand...

I don't know about that, the Empire was still pretty large at the time and I would expect substantial imigration to the southern colonies, (such as Australia or Rhodesia) they could easily hold on to what colonies they might feel that they need. Although India will probably be abandoned.

Part 1 *Edited Version*

In Febuary scientists in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (Y.V.O), present to a crowd on Yellowstone's seismic activity. They state during the presentation, that Yellowstone is on the verge of an eruption, though neither major nor hazardous.

Throughout March, more and more signs of seismic activity occur, all indicating towards the imminent eruption of Yellowstone (such as geyser explosions, earthquakes, tsunamis and Old Faithful going silent). Geologists and the federal government try to avoid public panic by saying that these seismic activities do not necessarily indicate an imminent volcanic eruption. However, media speculation raises public alarm. As seismic activity increases, a leaked government letter acknowledging a possible eruption causes widespread panic.

America is caught by surprise when the volcano violently erupts, spewing tonnes of rock and pyroclastic material into the sky. Most people within a thousand miles of Yellowstone are killed or injured as a result of attempting to outrun the pyroclastic flow.

Tension begins to rise as more and 3 vents open above the underlying magma chamber throughout the 3 day-long eruption. People are literally being drowned in the volcanic ash and the death toll rises to hundreds of thousands. Slowly, authorities begin to realise the seriousness of this problem. Very soon, the authorities become desperate, trying to find a way to save the trapped Americans in the central and western half of the country. In Washington many researchers worry that even after 700 cubic km of magma had come out, that it could still go on because Yellowstone has a maximum capacity of 25,000 cubic kilometers, twenty five times the amount already ejected and that the entire caldera could explode after the collapse. Luckily, things take a better turn just as all hope is nearly lost: the caldera collapses upon itself, indicating the decrease in pressure within the magma chamber, and it doesn't explode.

As it turns out, the eruption ends with a quarter of the United States and Canada covered in nearly one centimeter of volcanic ash on average as a looming cloud of suspended, lighter ash gets carried over the globe, engulfing the northern hemisphere of Earth, and as a result, plunging it into a volcanic winter. The southern hemisphere however, gets a dose of the ice age while the rest of it is in drought.

After one week 100,000,000 North Americans are without electricity and without food without any hope of help. Mexico faces hundreds of thousands of refugees. Mexico allows in around a million before closing its border. Millions of Americans set up camps on this border, others in America and Canada desperately head to the east. But with ash raining down around twenty million simply cannot leave there homes.

In a fortnight 30 million are dead through the blast, ash, starvation, or suffocation. All airspace in the USA has to be cleared,the farmbelt suffers the worst harvest ever with around only 6% of crops and livestock survive. The east coast is clogged with refugees and this shows no signs of stopping.

After three weeks those that quarter of the USA and Canada are experiencing anarchy. Riots begin all over both countries. In bunkers in Florida and Newfoundland theses governments declares martial law in these areas.

---------------

Ok Bill ive limited the power of the erupton and the amount of magma in the caldera,limiting the devastation somewhat.

The Red said:

In Febuary scientists in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (Y.V.O), present to a crowd on Yellowstone's seismic activity. They state during the presentation, that Yellowstone is on the verge of an eruption, though neither major nor hazardous.

Throughout March, more and more signs of seismic activity occur, all indicating towards the imminent eruption of Yellowstone (such as geyser explosions, earthquakes, tsunamis and Old Faithful going silent). Geologists and the federal government try to avoid public panic by saying that these seismic activities do not necessarily indicate an imminent volcanic eruption. However, media speculation raises public alarm. As seismic activity increases, a leaked government letter acknowledging a possible eruption causes widespread panic.

America is caught by surprise when the volcano violently erupts, spewing tonnes of rock and pyroclastic material into the sky. Most people within a thousand miles of Yellowstone are killed or injured as a result of attempting to outrun the pyroclastic flow.

Tension begins to rise as more and 3 vents open above the underlying magma chamber throughout the 3 day-long eruption. People are literally being drowned in the volcanic ash and the death toll rises to hundreds of thousands. Slowly, authorities begin to realise the seriousness of this problem. Very soon, the authorities become desperate, trying to find a way to save the trapped Americans in the central and western half of the country. In Washington many researchers worry that even after 700 cubic km of magma had come out, that it could still go on because Yellowstone has a maximum capacity of 25,000 cubic kilometers, twenty five times the amount already ejected and that the entire caldera could explode after the collapse. Luckily, things take a better turn just as all hope is nearly lost: the caldera collapses upon itself, indicating the decrease in pressure within the magma chamber, and it doesn't explode.

As it turns out, the eruption ends with a quarter of the United States covered in nearly one centimeter of volcanic ash on average as a looming cloud of suspended, lighter ash gets carried over the globe, engulfing the northern hemisphere of Earth, and as a result, plunging it into a volcanic winter. The southern hemisphere however, gets a dose of the ice age while the rest of it is in drought.

After one week 80,000,000 americans are without electricity and without food without any hope of help. Mexico faces hundreds of thousands of refugees. Mexico allows in around a million before closing its border. Millions of Americans set up camps on this border, others i n America and Canadadesperately head to the east. But with ash raining down around twenty million simply cannot leave there homes.

In a fortnight 30 million are dead through the blast, ash, starvation, or suffocation. All airspace in the USA has to be cleared, the US has lost all power, the farmbelt suffers the worst harvest ever with around only 6% of crops and livestock survive. The east coast is clogged with refugees and this shows no signs of stopping.

After three weeks those that quarter of the USA are experiencing anarchy. Riots begin all over America. In a bunker in Florida the government declares martial law in these areas.

---------------

Ok Bill ive limited the power of the erupton and the amount of magma in the caldera,limiting the devastation somewhat.

Click to expand...

What about the catastrophic damage, volcanic fallout, anarchy and general humanitarian crisis in Canada?

Lord Grattan said:

What about the catastrophic damage, volcanic fallout, anarchy and general humanitarian crisis in Canada?

Click to expand...

Ok ive made a few minor changes.

And leave Canada alone!

The Red said:

Ok ive made a few minor changes.

And leave Canada alone!

Click to expand...

Sorry, but you can't w/o many gigantic fans along the 49th Parallel and the American shores of Lakes Superior & Huron ... or ASB intervention, whichever is more realistic.