Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

Volcano Science Center images.

Filter Total Items: 594
Vertical motion at GPS station P350, in Idaho, together with nearby snowpack measurements
Vertical motion at GPS station P350, in Idaho, together with nearby snowpack measurements
Vertical motion at GPS station P350, in Idaho, together with nearby snowpack measurements
Vertical motion at GPS station P350, in Idaho, together with nearby snowpack measurements

Vertical motion at GPS station P350, in Idaho, together with nearby snowpack measurements (given as snow water equivalent). The GPS station moves downward as snowpack grows, and moves upward after it melts away. Taken from Knappe, et al., 2018 (https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023289).

Vertical deformation and snow depth measured at a GPS site in central Idaho during 2010-2016
Vertical deformation and snow depth measured at a GPS site in central Idaho during 2010-2016
Vertical deformation and snow depth measured at a GPS site in central Idaho during 2010-2016
Vertical deformation and snow depth measured at a GPS site in central Idaho during 2010-2016

Vertical ground motion (red line) measured at GPS site P350, in central Idaho, and snow depth (expressed as Snow Water Equivalent, or SWE; blue line) measured at a nearby SNOTEL site, during 2010-2016. The GPS station moved downward due to the increasing load of the accumulating snow during winter months, and then upward when the snow melted during summer months.

Vertical ground motion (red line) measured at GPS site P350, in central Idaho, and snow depth (expressed as Snow Water Equivalent, or SWE; blue line) measured at a nearby SNOTEL site, during 2010-2016. The GPS station moved downward due to the increasing load of the accumulating snow during winter months, and then upward when the snow melted during summer months.

Stream flowing through a grassy landscape, with a vegetated and old basalt lava flow in the distance
Basalts of Warm River and Shotgun Valley, Idaho
Basalts of Warm River and Shotgun Valley, Idaho
Basalts of Warm River and Shotgun Valley, Idaho

The Basalts of Warm River and Shotgun Valley, which erupted about 1.17 million years ago after the formation of Henrys Fork Caldera in southeast Idaho.  Photo by Brandi Lawler, University of Wyoming, August 8, 2018.

The Basalts of Warm River and Shotgun Valley, which erupted about 1.17 million years ago after the formation of Henrys Fork Caldera in southeast Idaho.  Photo by Brandi Lawler, University of Wyoming, August 8, 2018.

A barren plain with some colorful water marking occasional springs amidst white ground. Trees in the distance. Blue sky.
100 Spring Plain in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
100 Spring Plain in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
100 Spring Plain in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

100 Spring Plain in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.  The area is frequently flooded and impassable. Photo taken by Lauren Harrison in August 2018.

Vertical outcrop of basaltic rock partially covered in moss and dirt with forest in the background
Pinehaven Basalt, Idaho
Pinehaven Basalt, Idaho
Pinehaven Basalt, Idaho

The Pinehaven Basalt, which erupted in Henrys Fork Caldera, southeast Idaho, about 35,000 years ago.  Photo by Brandi Lawler, University of Wyoming, August 6, 2018.

The Pinehaven Basalt, which erupted in Henrys Fork Caldera, southeast Idaho, about 35,000 years ago.  Photo by Brandi Lawler, University of Wyoming, August 6, 2018.

barren landscape with a hot spring and a line of electrodes stretching into the distance. Forested hills in the background.
Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) measurements near Rosette Spring, Yellowstone National Park
Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) measurements near Rosette Spring, Yellowstone National Park
Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) measurements near Rosette Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) line R3 during setup of ERT and induced polarization measurement near Rosette Spring, Lower Geyser Basin.  Photo by University of Wyoming Geophysics Team, July 17, 2018.

River Styx, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
River Styx, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
River Styx, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
River Styx, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

River Styx, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. This thermal feature is actually a subterranean hot water creek that likely collects water discharged from Mammoth Hot Spring pools that, after cooling and outflowing from vents, tends to disappear back underground through the porous travertine.

River Styx, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. This thermal feature is actually a subterranean hot water creek that likely collects water discharged from Mammoth Hot Spring pools that, after cooling and outflowing from vents, tends to disappear back underground through the porous travertine.

Lower Geyser Basin, with Fountain and Clepsydra Geysers in eruption
Lower Geyser Basin, with Fountain and Clepsydra Geysers in eruption
Lower Geyser Basin, with Fountain and Clepsydra Geysers in eruption
Lower Geyser Basin, with Fountain and Clepsydra Geysers in eruption

View of Lower Geyser Basin, with Fountain and Clepsydra Geysers in eruption, looking south towards Fountain Paint Pots. The vegetation in the photo is indicative of vegetation throughout much of Lower Geyser Basin—open grassland maintained by hot ground with patches of lodgepole pine.

View of Lower Geyser Basin, with Fountain and Clepsydra Geysers in eruption, looking south towards Fountain Paint Pots. The vegetation in the photo is indicative of vegetation throughout much of Lower Geyser Basin—open grassland maintained by hot ground with patches of lodgepole pine.

Color photograph of scientists gathered
Ed Brown (identified by white arrow) pictured with his HVO colleagues during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption
Ed Brown (identified by white arrow) pictured with his HVO colleagues during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption
Ed Brown (identified by white arrow) pictured with his HVO colleagues during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption

Ed Brown (identified by white arrow, standing behind former USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal) pictured with his HVO colleagues during the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse when HVO staff were temporarily based at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Geology Department following the evacuation of the HVO building in Hawaiʻi Volcano

Ed Brown (identified by white arrow, standing behind former USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal) pictured with his HVO colleagues during the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse when HVO staff were temporarily based at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Geology Department following the evacuation of the HVO building in Hawaiʻi Volcano

Looking down into a barren valley with some hot springs. Trees in the foreground and background. Mountain in the far back.
Looking west over The Gap subbasin of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Looking west over The Gap subbasin of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Looking west over The Gap subbasin of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Looking west over The Gap subbasin of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, from a vantage point on the Ragged Hills. The mountain in the distance is Mt. Holmes. Photo taken in June 2018 by Lauren Harrison. 

Shaded relief map of Yellowstone showing a figure-8 pattern of loops that represent the Howard Eaton trail pathway
Various iterations of the Howard Eaton Trail, Yellowstone National Park
Various iterations of the Howard Eaton Trail, Yellowstone National Park
Various iterations of the Howard Eaton Trail, Yellowstone National Park

This map shows the Grand Loop Road along with different versions of the Howard Eaton Trail. Over the years, sections of the trail were rerouted to improve visitor safety, reduce maintenance costs, and protect sensitive natural areas. Using National Park Service and USGS sources from 1923, 1937, 1956, 1958, and 1959, students E.

This map shows the Grand Loop Road along with different versions of the Howard Eaton Trail. Over the years, sections of the trail were rerouted to improve visitor safety, reduce maintenance costs, and protect sensitive natural areas. Using National Park Service and USGS sources from 1923, 1937, 1956, 1958, and 1959, students E.

Map showing volcanoes that formed at the leading edge of the Yellowstone hotspot in the past several million years
Map showing volcanoes that formed at the leading edge of the Yellowstone hotspot in the past several million years
Map showing volcanoes that formed at the leading edge of the Yellowstone hotspot in the past several million years
Map showing volcanoes that formed at the leading edge of the Yellowstone hotspot in the past several million years

Map showing volcanoes that formed at the leading edge of the Yellowstone hotspot in the past several million years.  (A) Map of northwest Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and southern Montana (modified from Brueseke et al., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES01553.1).  Upper Wind River Basin (UWRB) is depicted by dashe

Grant Village boat dock, on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, where a water-level sensor measures lake level
Grant Village boat dock, on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, where a water-level sensor measures lake level
Grant Village boat dock, on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, where a water-level sensor measures lake level
Time series of vertical displacements during April–October 2017 at four GPS stations on the north side of Yellowstone Lake
Time series of vertical displacements during April–October 2017 at four GPS stations on the north side of Yellowstone Lake
Time series of vertical displacements during April–October 2017 at four GPS stations on the north side of Yellowstone Lake
Time series of vertical displacements during April–October 2017 at four GPS stations on the north side of Yellowstone Lake

Time series of vertical displacements during April–October 2017 at four GPS stations (LAK1, LAK2, LKWY, and SEDG) on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. Downward trends indicate subsidence and upward trends show uplift. Uplift “spikes” in late September are related to inclement weather and do not show true deformation. Error bars are one standard deviation.

Time series of vertical displacements during April–October 2017 at four GPS stations (LAK1, LAK2, LKWY, and SEDG) on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. Downward trends indicate subsidence and upward trends show uplift. Uplift “spikes” in late September are related to inclement weather and do not show true deformation. Error bars are one standard deviation.

Deformation near South Sister from GPS data, 2001-2017
Deformation near South Sister from GPS data, 2001-2017
Deformation near South Sister from GPS data, 2001-2017
Deformation near South Sister from GPS data, 2001-2017

Horizontal displacements from campaign (black vectors) and continuous (red vectors, with station names given) GPS stations, as well as vertical displacements (indicated by color of GPS station symbol) near South Sister, Oregon. Length of arrow gives amount of horizontal displacement, with scale in lower left showing an arrow length

Horizontal displacements from campaign (black vectors) and continuous (red vectors, with station names given) GPS stations, as well as vertical displacements (indicated by color of GPS station symbol) near South Sister, Oregon. Length of arrow gives amount of horizontal displacement, with scale in lower left showing an arrow length

Roadcut exposure of Huckleberry Ridge Tuff and Mesa Falls Tuff along U.S. Route 20 between Ashton and Island Park, Idaho
Roadcut exposure of Huckleberry Ridge Tuff and Mesa Falls Tuff along U.S. Route 20 between Ashton and Island Park, Idaho
Roadcut exposure of Huckleberry Ridge Tuff and Mesa Falls Tuff along U.S. Route 20 between Ashton and Island Park, Idaho
Four scientists in safety vests in a grassy meadow with occasional bounders setting up geophysical equipment
Field crew setting up a magnetotelluric site in Yellowstone National Park
Field crew setting up a magnetotelluric site in Yellowstone National Park
Field crew setting up a magnetotelluric site in Yellowstone National Park

Field crew from Oregon State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison install a magnetotelluric site within Yellowstone National Park. 

The head of an immature wetsalts tiger beetle at the entrance to the burrow it dug
Head of an immature wetsalts tiger beetle at the entrance to the burrow it dug
Head of an immature wetsalts tiger beetle at the entrance to the burrow it dug
WorldView-2 satellite image showing thermal areas on the north side of Mallard Lake resurgent dome in Yellowstone National Park.
WorldView-2 satellite image showing thermal areas on the north side of Mallard Lake resurgent dome in Yellowstone National Park.
WorldView-2 satellite image showing thermal areas on the north side of Mallard Lake resurgent dome in Yellowstone National Park.
Was this page helpful?