Explosion at Yellowstone may have formed new geyser: here's how
FILE-National Park Service officials examine the debris field after a hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin that launched debris over 600 feet in the air on July 26, 2024 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (Photo by Jonath
As geologists continue to gather findings about the explosion at Yellowstone last month, one expert is weighing in on if the incident may have created a geyser.
The July 23 explosion resulted in the Yellowstone National Park’s Biscuit Basin area closing for the rest of the summer and Michael Poland, a geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), explains what caused the eruption and how it relates to the formation of a geyser.
Expert explains if Yellowstone explosion formed a geyser
The explosion was a buildup of steam and boiling water that needed to be released, and as Poland tells FOX Television Stations it did not form a new geyser. "No, it was an existing hot spring and beneath the surface was an accumulation of steam and boiling water that needed to get out, but that did not have a clear path," Poland said. "It exploded because of the pressure increase from the steam and boiling water. We do not ultimately know what the results will be. It may be that this feature does have geyser-like behavior in the future, but it is too early to say."
What is a geyser?
A geyser is a hydrothermal hot water feature where there is steam and boiling water beneath the surface and "it is well-established plumbing that allows the steam and water to escape below the surface, kind of like a tea kettle," Poland offers. "What happened on July 23 is that the steam and boiling water was like a tea kettle without a spout, and it exploded."
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It is common for a geyser to form after an explosion like last week’s incident. As Poland explains, "It can because the explosion will make a path to the surface, and it depends on what the explosion does to the plumbing system. It can have the effect of producing a new geyser. But we have not seen any significant eruptions from this feature since the explosion."
What caused the Yellowstone explosion?
Video showed the moment the explosion occurred at Yellowstone, sending debris and steam flying in the air. Poland says "the explosion was caused by an accumulation of steam and boiling water. The water in Yellowstone carries a lot of silica. As the water boils and moves around that silica can come out of the water and coat the hot water plumbing. If enough silica accumulates, it will seal off parts of the plumbing, which can cause pressure to increase." The geophysicist added that the explosion did not alter the national park’s physical conditions and did not have an effect on the park overall.
Did an incident like the Yellowstone explosion happen in the past?
"Explosions like this are common in the park, with smaller ones happening almost every year. For example, a much smaller one happened near Old Faithful in 2018, and in Norris Geyser Basin earlier this year," Poland said. "These explosions are like what would happen in a tea kettle with the spout. If you seal the spout off, that will cause problems. Smaller explosions are much more common than larger explosions. The explosion that occurred on July 23 is of a size that might happen every decade to a few decades somewhere in the park."
This story was reported from Washington, D.C.