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That myth about Indigenous people being ‘afraid’ of Yellowstone? Evidence, histories say otherwise.
The Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804–1806 never entered the Yellowstone area, although they were tantalizingly close — on the return journey from the Pacific Ocean, a group led by Capt. William Clark passed through present-day Livingston, Montana, and journeyed down the Yellowstone River from that point. Nevertheless, in Clark’s journal of the expedition, in […]
Which is more hazardous to Yellowstone National Park visitors: wildlife or hot springs?
Yellowstone National Park is home to an array of “charismatic megafauna” — for instance, elk, bears, bison, wolves and other large mammals. And as the term “wildlife” implies, these animals are, well, wild. Yellowstone National Park requires all visitors to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards […]
If an eruption is so unlikely, why do we monitor Yellowstone National Park at all?
A common question asked of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists is “when will Yellowstone erupt?” And the usual reply is that “an eruption of any sort, either an explosion or a lava flow, is very unlikely in our lifetimes.” This is a true statement — seismic imaging has shown that the magma chamber beneath Yellowstone is […]
2,429 earthquakes, 11 Steamboat Geyser eruptions, floods: Here’s Yellowstone’s 2022 year in review
Since 2017, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory has produced annual reports that contain an abundance of information about a variety of topics — ground deformation trends, earthquake activity, and upgrades to monitoring networks, for example. In addition, there is information about research results and new discoveries, like the recognition of the new thermal area near Tern […]
First geological map of Yellowstone National Park stands test of time
The volcanic character of Yellowstone has long been known. An indigenous map drawn on a bison pelt indicating a volcano on the Yellowstone River was described by the governor of Louisiana Territory in an 1805 letter to Thomas Jefferson. The first formal geological studies of the region, however, were not undertaken until the 1870s. In 1871, […]
A Christmas (misinformation) story: Yellowstone National Park edition
On Oct. 30, 1938, Orson Welles directed and narrated a live radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel “The War of the Worlds.” The incident is famous for supposedly having incited a panic that the events being described were really happening. Some people apparently thought that Martians were invading Earth! Fast forward over 80 years […]
2,500 earthquakes, 26 swarms. 11 Steamboat Geyser eruptions. Here’s Yellowstone’s year in a glance.
Any annual review of Yellowstone’s activity has to start with seismicity. Yellowstone is an active place in terms of earthquakes. Typically the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, which is responsible for the operation of the Yellowstone Seismic Network, locates 1,500–2,500 earthquakes every year in the region. Over the last several years, annual seismicity in and around Yellowstone National […]
Active, dormant, extinct: Clarifying confusing volcano classifications at Yellowstone and beyond
When the subject of volcanoes comes up, you’ll often hear the words “active,” “dormant,” and “extinct.” But what precisely do they mean? Admittedly, use of these terms by volcanologists has been somewhat inconsistent and evolved with time, which has resulted in understandable confusion among non-volcanologists. A simple search for the terms online produces a number […]
How might floods in Yellowstone National Park influence seismic and hydrothermal activity?
Last week, flooding at Yellowstone caused catastrophic damage in the region, destroying homes, roads, and bridges, and isolating entire communities. Despite the size of this event, the impacts on seismic and hydrothermal activity are likely to be minor. From June 10-13, 2022, an “atmospheric river” event — a system of warm and extremely wet air […]
May ushers in new season of geoscience field work in Yellowstone National Park
May is an exciting time for geologists when it comes to Yellowstone — by that month, enough snow has usually melted to allow for the start of field work. And the field season typically lasts until October or November. Last week, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists kicked off the field season with several projects. Geophysicists installed […]
Short drive between Yellowstone’s Tower, Canyon junctions showcases millions of years of history
The road over Dunraven Pass between Tower and Canyon junctions in the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park exposes an outstanding sequence of geological history, much of which significantly predates recent Yellowstone volcanism. Construction work closed the road during the summers of 2020 and 2021, but the route is scheduled to open to park visitors […]
2,773 earthquakes were recorded in the Yellowstone National Park area in 2021, annual report says
How many earthquakes occurred in the Yellowstone region in 2021? How many times did Steamboat Geyser erupt? What geological mapping was completed during the year? Good questions. And now, the answers to these questions, and more, are all compiled in one easy-to-navigate source — the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 Annual Report, which can be accessed […]