We may think of the national parks as natural landscapes frozen in time. However, landscapes are ever-changing. A new, exciting thermal vent has appeared in Yellowstone.
The ranger who first spotted the new vent wasn’t sure if it was smoke from a wildfire or steam. However, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory confirmed the discovery. The new thermal vent sits at the base of a lava flow.
Yellowstone is on top of one of Earth’s largest magma reservoirs. That’s why it contains so many geysers and hot springs.
“This is really just Yellowstone being Yellowstone,” said Michael Poland, a geophysicist in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. “This is exactly how this area has always behaved. It’s incredibly dynamic.”
While that’s true, it’s rare for a fully formed thermal area to spring up. And this one is visible from the Norris-Mammoth drive, making it incredibly convenient for visitors to come see. Visiting it this summer will be great as the vent is young and hasn’t changed the environment yet. The hot, mineral-rich waters may kill the trees around it if it stays active. Right now, everything is still green and growing.
Geologists aren’t 100 percent sure it will be visible this summer. The steam may get blocked by the water it’s venting. It depends on how active it is. Even if this vent isn’t visible, Old Faithful is still merrily chugging along! If you want to see this new vent, it’s currently located about a mile north of the Norris Geyser Basin.
“The feature itself is new. That there would be a new feature is, you know, mundane,” said Mr. Poland. “The noteworthy part … was just that it was so noticeable. But the sort of overall idea that there would be a new feature that formed is pretty normal.”
We have a worrywart on our team. If you are like her, don’t worry! Her research shows that the last volcanic eruption in Yellowstone was 70,000 years ago. Only a small percentage of the magma under Yellowstone is liquid. That means there probably isn’t enough to even feed an eruption. You are safe to visit Yellowstone. But you should stay to the paths and designated areas as many of the geysers and hot springs can kill people.
As always, we like to remind people that getting out into nature is good for the body, mind and spirit. We encourage everyone to do it as often as possible!
