YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — The hydrothermal monitoring network in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is growing with a newly installed site near Old Faithful Geyser that came online earlier this month.

Monitoring station near Geyser Hill in the Upper Geyser Basin. Image: USGS

This week’s Caldera Chronicles column describes the expanding capabilities of the monitoring system in YNP. In addition to the new station near Old Faithful, a new camera has been reinstalled close to Lake Village after the former camera malfunctioned in 2024. The weekly column was written by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s (YVO) Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland and Chief Seismologist Jame Farrell.

According to the column, YVO introduced a 10-year plan for volcanic, seismic and hydrothermal monitoring in 2022. The first station was established in September 2023 in Norris Geyser Basin and included equipment to track ground movement, detect small seismic tremors, and measure low-frequency acoustic signals. Weather instruments were also installed. The geophysical monitoring system recorded its first hydrothermal explosion in YNP on April 15, 2024, when an explosion took place on Porcelain Terrace.

“Of course, the 2024 Norris Geyser Basin explosion was quickly overshadowed by the July 23, 2024, hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin — an event that drove home the hazardous nature of the boiling water system at Yellowstone,” the column states.

The new site is located near Geyser Hill, which is in the region of Old Faithful in Upper Geyser Basin. A team of scientists and staff from the University of Utah, YNP, and U.S. Geological Survey installed weather, seismic and infrasound sensors to detect various signals. The seismic sensor has recorded the “thumping” behavior from Doublet Pool. Monitoring changes in the thumping interval could help forecast future changes in hydrothermal activity. Infrasound sensors record geyser eruptions, and multiple stations can work together to determine the location and source of activity.

Acoustic signals recorded at infrasound arrays (red triangles) in Biscuit Basin (YBB) and near Geyser Hill (YGH) can be used to determine the direction from which low-frequency acoustic signals originated, also called the backazimuth. This example is from 9:14 p.m. on Sept. 10, when both arrays recorded a strong signal. The backazimuths converged on Giant Geyser (blue star), which started erupting at that time and was the source of the infrasound signal. Map: USGS

The newly reinstalled camera is located on a cell tower near Lake Village. The view looks to the south-southeast at Yellowstone Lake. The first camera was set up in 2017, but it malfunctioned in 2024. Efforts to reinstate a camera were obstructed by bad weather and an active osprey nest in the tower. Finally, engineers from the University of Utah ascended the tower and installed the camera in early September. The camera view is updated every 15 minutes and can be seen online here.

“The new monitoring station and renewed camera will be instrumental (so to speak!) for tracking hydrothermal activity in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin and assessing conditions in the area of Yellowstone Lake,” the authors wrote.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.