YVO monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano, May 1, 2022

Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about Yellowstone’s recent earthquakes, trends in ground deformation, and Steamboat Geyser activity in this video update of May 1, 2022.

Mike is reporting from the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington. CVO is one of five observatories operated by the USGS. The others are in Hawaii, Alaska, and California. Unlike the other four, Yellowstone is a virtual observatory. It has no physical location. Instead, scientists from the California and Cascades Observatories, and from state geological surveys, universities, and research agencies located in the western U.S. work together to research, monitor, and understand Yellowstone.

Since YVO is a virtual observatory, data and updates are available online. Newly available is the YVO Annual Report for 2021. This report summarizes seismic activity, ground deformation, and research activities like geologic mapping and studies of Yellowstone Lake in 2021. The report is available for free at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1494.

During April 2022, there were 141 earthquakes and three small swarms at Yellowstone, all consistent with normal, background levels of activity. No significant changes in ground deformation patterns were observed in data from continuous GPS stations. There were no eruptions of Steamboat Geyser in April.

Soon, scientists with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory will be meeting for the first time in four years at Yellowstone National Park. So next month’s update will be coming to you from the Park and will introduce you to some of the scientists who work as part of YVO, and ongoing projects.