Monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano for July 2022

Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, describes activity at Yellowstone volcano in this monthly update for July 1, 2022. 

The Yellowstone region saw record flooding owing to heavy rainfall and snowmelt during June 10–13.  Several roads and bridges were washed out, and many small landslides and rockfalls occurred, especially in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park.  Although severe, the flooding is not expected to have any significant impact on seismic or hydrothermal activity in the Yellowstone region.  The only potential impact would be on geyser activity, because some geysers tend to erupt slightly more frequently during high-precipitation years compared to drier years.  The timing shift is subtle but statistically significant. 

There were 149 located earthquakes in June (maximum magnitude M2.4) and several small swarms. There was continued caldera subsidence and slight subsidence at Norris. Steamboat Geyser had two major water eruptions, on June 10 and 20.