YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — On July 3, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) shared a Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Monthly Update on the hydrothermal system and seismic activity.
According to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland, there have been notable changes in thermal activity in the area near Old Faithful on Geyser Hill.
Starting on May 24, Aurum Geyser started erupting for the first time in two years, with repeated eruptions over the weeks that followed. Beehive Geyser, which is known to erupt once a day, also began erupting more frequently.
Poland also confirms there are a number of new features close to the Geyser Hill boardwalk that have closed a section of the walking path due to the splashing of hot water and the throwing of natural debris. A dormant feature that formed in 2018 also became active near the boardwalk on May 30.
While activity has calmed down since early June, Poland says the question is what drove this change in activity.
“It’s tempting to think that it’s magma, right?” Poland says. “Sorry, that’s not the case. If that were true, we would expect to see changes throughout the basin, not just in one little localized area on Geyser Hill.”
Poland credits the changes to the dynamic nature of YNP’s hydrothermal system, which he compares to plumbing in an old house that’s always springing different leaks.
Additionally, Steamboat Geyser, the tallest in the world, had a major eruption on June 9. This was Steamboat’s fifth major eruption of 2023, but Poland says there’s currently no indication of any minor activity in the geyser that would suggest another major eruption is on its way.
The Park also recorded fewer earthquakes this June than in years past. The month registered 78 earthquakes, which Poland says is a bit below average. The largest registered a magnitude of 2.8 on June 17 and was just south of the Park boundary.
