Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming – In August 2024, a Yellowstone National Park ranger spotted a plume of steam while driving between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Geyser Basin. Initially unsure whether it was steam or wildfire smoke, the ranger identified it as steam emanating from a new thermal vent. The discovery was detailed in a recent blog post by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Park geologists were alerted to the new thermal feature hidden within a stand of lodgepole pine trees near a rhyolite lava flow. Yellowstone is home to over 10,000 hydrothermal features, with geologists mapping more than 100 major hydrothermal areas within the park. This latest discovery is further evidence of the park’s ever-changing landscape.
The geothermal feature, located in the Roadside Springs thermal area, was found to be hot, with temperatures exceeding 170 degrees Fahrenheit. The surrounding area showed signs of recent volcanic activity, with young gray clay covering the landscape. The observatory suggested a probable connection between this new vent and activity observed back in March 2003.
Geophysicist Michael Poland from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory emphasized the dynamic nature of Yellowstone, stating that the region constantly evolves. Seasonal variations, moisture levels, and temperature changes all play a role in the behavior of hydrothermal features like the new thermal vent. Geologists plan to monitor the area over the coming months to track any further developments.
Last summer was marked by increased hydrothermal activity in Yellowstone, with instances of small explosions and eruptions in various thermal areas. The unique geology of Yellowstone continues to fascinate researchers and visitors alike, as the landscape is shaped by the subterranean forces at work beneath the park’s surface. As geologists continue to study the park’s hydrothermal features, they hope to gain new insights into the complex and ever-changing nature of Yellowstone National Park.