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When was the last time Yellowstone erupted?

The most recent volcanic activity at Yellowstone consisted of rhyolitic lava flows that erupted approximately 70,000 years ago. The largest of these flows formed the Pitchstone Plateau in southwestern Yellowstone National Park.

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Excelsior Geyser erupting as a violent hydrothermal explosion. The ...

What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again? What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?

The most likely explosive event to occur at Yellowstone is actually a hydrothermal explosion (a rock hurling geyser eruption) or a lava flow. Hydrothermal explosions are very small; they occur in Yellowstone National Park every few years and form a crater a few meters across. Every few thousand years, a hydrothermal explosion will form a crater as much as a few hundred meters across. Though the...

What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?

What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?

The most likely explosive event to occur at Yellowstone is actually a hydrothermal explosion (a rock hurling geyser eruption) or a lava flow. Hydrothermal explosions are very small; they occur in Yellowstone National Park every few years and form a crater a few meters across. Every few thousand years, a hydrothermal explosion will form a crater as much as a few hundred meters across. Though the...

Learn More
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Filter Total Items: 13

Database for the Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana Database for the Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana

The superlative hot springs, geysers, and fumarole fields of Yellowstone National Park are vivid reminders of a recent volcanic past. Volcanism on an immense scale largely shaped the unique landscape of central and western Yellowstone Park, and intimately related tectonism and seismicity continue even now. Furthermore, the volcanism that gave rise to Yellowstone's hydrothermal displays...
Authors
Richard D. Koch, David W. Ramsey, Robert L. Christiansen
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Protocols for geologic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory to activity within the Yellowstone Volcanic System Protocols for geologic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory to activity within the Yellowstone Volcanic System

Executive Summary The Yellowstone Plateau hosts an active volcanic system, with subterranean magma (molten rock), boiling, pressurized waters, and a variety of active faults with significant earthquake hazards. Within the next few decades, light-to-moderate earthquakes and steam explosions are certain to occur. Volcanic eruptions are less likely, but are ultimately inevitable in this...
Authors
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Preliminary Assessment of Volcanic and Hydrothermal Hazards in Yellowstone National Park and Vicinity Preliminary Assessment of Volcanic and Hydrothermal Hazards in Yellowstone National Park and Vicinity

Possible future violent events in the active hydrothermal, magmatic, and tectonic system of Yellowstone National Park pose potential hazards to park visitors and infrastructure. Most of the national park and vicinity are sparsely populated, but significant numbers of people as well as park resources could nevertheless be at risk from these hazards. Depending on the nature and magnitude...
Authors
Robert L. Christiansen, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Robert B. Smith, Henry Heasler, Lisa A. Morgan, Manuel Nathenson, Larry G. Mastin, L.J. Patrick Muffler, Joel E. Robinson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Steam explosions, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions -- what's in Yellowstone's future? Steam explosions, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions -- what's in Yellowstone's future?

Yellowstone, one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems, has produced several giant volcanic eruptions in the past few million years, as well as many smaller eruptions and steam explosions. Although no eruptions of lava or volcanic ash have occurred for many thousands of years, future eruptions are likely. In the next few hundred years, hazards will most probably be limited to...
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, Robert L. Christiansen, Robert B. Smith, Lisa A. Morgan, Henry Heasler
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Tracking changes in Yellowstone's restless volcanic system Tracking changes in Yellowstone's restless volcanic system

No abstract available.
Authors
Peter H. Stauffer
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

The Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana The Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana

This region of Yellowstone National Park has been the active focus of one of the Earth's largest magmatic systems for more than 2 million years. The resulting volcanism has been characterized by the eruption of voluminous rhyolites and subordinate basalts but virtually no lavas of intermediate composition. The magmatic system at depth remains active and drives the massive hydrothermal...
Authors
Robert L. Christiansen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center
So, when will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen?

So, when will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen?

Geologists from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory are often asked to estimate how likely future eruptions are at Yellowstone, but it’s no walk in...

Read Article
Cosmic clocks help to keep time in Yellowstone

Cosmic clocks help to keep time in Yellowstone

Geologists can use cosmic rays from outer space to piece together the timing of past geologic events, like volcanic eruptions and glaciations. But how...

Read Article
Going, going, argon! Determining volcanic eruption ages with argon geochronology

Going, going, argon! Determining volcanic eruption ages with argon geochronology

Argon dating is a powerful tool for determining when volcanoes erupted in the past. This technique works on a multitude of volcanic materials—from...

Read Article
Lotta lava! New insights into the timing of Yellowstone’s most recent rhyolite eruptions

Lotta lava! New insights into the timing of Yellowstone’s most recent rhyolite eruptions

New age data for rhyolite lava flows erupted in Yellowstone caldera suggest that the eruptions occurred in tight clusters. These results change the...

Read Article
New views of how magma is stored beneath Yellowstone provided by hundreds of seismic sensors

New views of how magma is stored beneath Yellowstone provided by hundreds of seismic sensors

Data from a major deployment of seismometers in 2020 is revealing new insights into the characteristics of the magma chamber beneath Yellowstone...

Read Article
"Overdue" can apply to library books, bills, and oil changes, but it does not apply to Yellowstone!

"Overdue" can apply to library books, bills, and oil changes, but it does not apply to Yellowstone!

We've heard many statements that Yellowstone is overdue -- that it has a major eruption every 600,000 years on average, and since the last eruption...

Read Article

Related

Excelsior Geyser erupting as a violent hydrothermal explosion. The ...

What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again? What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?

The most likely explosive event to occur at Yellowstone is actually a hydrothermal explosion (a rock hurling geyser eruption) or a lava flow. Hydrothermal explosions are very small; they occur in Yellowstone National Park every few years and form a crater a few meters across. Every few thousand years, a hydrothermal explosion will form a crater as much as a few hundred meters across. Though the...

What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?

What type of eruption will Yellowstone have if it erupts again?

The most likely explosive event to occur at Yellowstone is actually a hydrothermal explosion (a rock hurling geyser eruption) or a lava flow. Hydrothermal explosions are very small; they occur in Yellowstone National Park every few years and form a crater a few meters across. Every few thousand years, a hydrothermal explosion will form a crater as much as a few hundred meters across. Though the...

Learn More
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 13

Database for the Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana Database for the Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana

The superlative hot springs, geysers, and fumarole fields of Yellowstone National Park are vivid reminders of a recent volcanic past. Volcanism on an immense scale largely shaped the unique landscape of central and western Yellowstone Park, and intimately related tectonism and seismicity continue even now. Furthermore, the volcanism that gave rise to Yellowstone's hydrothermal displays...
Authors
Richard D. Koch, David W. Ramsey, Robert L. Christiansen
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Protocols for geologic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory to activity within the Yellowstone Volcanic System Protocols for geologic hazards response by the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory to activity within the Yellowstone Volcanic System

Executive Summary The Yellowstone Plateau hosts an active volcanic system, with subterranean magma (molten rock), boiling, pressurized waters, and a variety of active faults with significant earthquake hazards. Within the next few decades, light-to-moderate earthquakes and steam explosions are certain to occur. Volcanic eruptions are less likely, but are ultimately inevitable in this...
Authors
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Preliminary Assessment of Volcanic and Hydrothermal Hazards in Yellowstone National Park and Vicinity Preliminary Assessment of Volcanic and Hydrothermal Hazards in Yellowstone National Park and Vicinity

Possible future violent events in the active hydrothermal, magmatic, and tectonic system of Yellowstone National Park pose potential hazards to park visitors and infrastructure. Most of the national park and vicinity are sparsely populated, but significant numbers of people as well as park resources could nevertheless be at risk from these hazards. Depending on the nature and magnitude...
Authors
Robert L. Christiansen, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Robert B. Smith, Henry Heasler, Lisa A. Morgan, Manuel Nathenson, Larry G. Mastin, L.J. Patrick Muffler, Joel E. Robinson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Steam explosions, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions -- what's in Yellowstone's future? Steam explosions, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions -- what's in Yellowstone's future?

Yellowstone, one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems, has produced several giant volcanic eruptions in the past few million years, as well as many smaller eruptions and steam explosions. Although no eruptions of lava or volcanic ash have occurred for many thousands of years, future eruptions are likely. In the next few hundred years, hazards will most probably be limited to...
Authors
Jacob B. Lowenstern, Robert L. Christiansen, Robert B. Smith, Lisa A. Morgan, Henry Heasler
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

Tracking changes in Yellowstone's restless volcanic system Tracking changes in Yellowstone's restless volcanic system

No abstract available.
Authors
Peter H. Stauffer
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center

The Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana The Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana

This region of Yellowstone National Park has been the active focus of one of the Earth's largest magmatic systems for more than 2 million years. The resulting volcanism has been characterized by the eruption of voluminous rhyolites and subordinate basalts but virtually no lavas of intermediate composition. The magmatic system at depth remains active and drives the massive hydrothermal...
Authors
Robert L. Christiansen
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center
So, when will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen?

So, when will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen?

Geologists from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory are often asked to estimate how likely future eruptions are at Yellowstone, but it’s no walk in...

Read Article
Cosmic clocks help to keep time in Yellowstone

Cosmic clocks help to keep time in Yellowstone

Geologists can use cosmic rays from outer space to piece together the timing of past geologic events, like volcanic eruptions and glaciations. But how...

Read Article
Going, going, argon! Determining volcanic eruption ages with argon geochronology

Going, going, argon! Determining volcanic eruption ages with argon geochronology

Argon dating is a powerful tool for determining when volcanoes erupted in the past. This technique works on a multitude of volcanic materials—from...

Read Article
Lotta lava! New insights into the timing of Yellowstone’s most recent rhyolite eruptions

Lotta lava! New insights into the timing of Yellowstone’s most recent rhyolite eruptions

New age data for rhyolite lava flows erupted in Yellowstone caldera suggest that the eruptions occurred in tight clusters. These results change the...

Read Article
New views of how magma is stored beneath Yellowstone provided by hundreds of seismic sensors

New views of how magma is stored beneath Yellowstone provided by hundreds of seismic sensors

Data from a major deployment of seismometers in 2020 is revealing new insights into the characteristics of the magma chamber beneath Yellowstone...

Read Article
"Overdue" can apply to library books, bills, and oil changes, but it does not apply to Yellowstone!

"Overdue" can apply to library books, bills, and oil changes, but it does not apply to Yellowstone!

We've heard many statements that Yellowstone is overdue -- that it has a major eruption every 600,000 years on average, and since the last eruption...

Read Article
Updated Date: January 21, 2026
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