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Images related to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

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Map and stratigraphy of ashflow sheets from Yellowstone Hotspot
Map and stratigraphy of ashflow sheets from Yellowstone Hotspot
Map and stratigraphy of ashflow sheets from Yellowstone Hotspot
Map and stratigraphy of ashflow sheets from Yellowstone Hotspot

Newly identified ash flow sheets within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province (Y-SRP).  The small inset in the center shows the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and its associated eruptive centers in light gray (M—McDermitt; OH—Owyhee-Humboldt; BJ—Bruneau-Jarbidge; TF—Twin Falls; P—Picabo; H—Heise; Y—Yellowstone).

Newly identified ash flow sheets within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province (Y-SRP).  The small inset in the center shows the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and its associated eruptive centers in light gray (M—McDermitt; OH—Owyhee-Humboldt; BJ—Bruneau-Jarbidge; TF—Twin Falls; P—Picabo; H—Heise; Y—Yellowstone).

Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite.
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite

Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite (a silicic igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the ground). An outcrop of this size is important because it is easier to see any structural relations along with rock composition.

Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite (a silicic igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the ground). An outcrop of this size is important because it is easier to see any structural relations along with rock composition.

Petrified trees on Specimen Ridge, Yellowstone National Park
Petrified trees on Specimen Ridge, Yellowstone National Park
Petrified trees on Specimen Ridge, Yellowstone National Park
Simplified Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park
Simplified Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park
Simplified Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park
Simplified Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park

Simplified Geologic Map of Yellowstone, modified from USGS I-711 by Marli Miller, University of Oregon. All rock material resulting from the major caldera-forming eruptions are labelled at Qt, where the dashed caldera boundary highlights the scale of these events. Older volcanic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are found outside of this boundary.

Simplified Geologic Map of Yellowstone, modified from USGS I-711 by Marli Miller, University of Oregon. All rock material resulting from the major caldera-forming eruptions are labelled at Qt, where the dashed caldera boundary highlights the scale of these events. Older volcanic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are found outside of this boundary.

Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone
Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone
Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone
Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone

Geology of Yellowstone Map zoomed into the Lower Geyser Basin. This view shows a park-wide geologic map overlaid on a shaded relief layer from a digital elevation model. Red diamonds and black circles show geysers and gas sample locations, respectively.

Geology of Yellowstone Map zoomed into the Lower Geyser Basin. This view shows a park-wide geologic map overlaid on a shaded relief layer from a digital elevation model. Red diamonds and black circles show geysers and gas sample locations, respectively.

Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone
Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone
Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone
Screen captures of the WGS digital mapping service Yellowstone

A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) shaded relief image overlaid on an aerial imagery basemap. The Sulphur Hills, part of the Sour Creek Resurgent Dome, are visible in the upper half of the image, while the floodplain and meanders of Pelican Creek are visible at the bottom.

A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) shaded relief image overlaid on an aerial imagery basemap. The Sulphur Hills, part of the Sour Creek Resurgent Dome, are visible in the upper half of the image, while the floodplain and meanders of Pelican Creek are visible at the bottom.

Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 that occurred between March 1 and May 12, 2020, in the Intermountain West.
Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 Intermountain West Idaho
Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 Intermountain West Idaho
Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 Intermountain West Idaho

Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 that occurred between March 1 and May 12, 2020, in the Intermountain West. The main shock-aftershock sequences in central Idaho and near Salt Lake City are labeled. Orange dots are earthquakes that occurred within 24 hours, and yellow 1 week, of the map being generated (May 12, 2020)

Map of earthquakes greater than M1.5 that occurred between March 1 and May 12, 2020, in the Intermountain West. The main shock-aftershock sequences in central Idaho and near Salt Lake City are labeled. Orange dots are earthquakes that occurred within 24 hours, and yellow 1 week, of the map being generated (May 12, 2020)

graphs showing the difference between earthquake types
Schematic diagram showing differences in earthquake types
Schematic diagram showing differences in earthquake types
Schematic diagram showing differences in earthquake types

Schematic diagram illustrating the difference between a main shock with aftershocks (top), a sequences of foreshocks, main shock, and aftershocks (middle), and a seismic swarm (bottom).  Adapted from manuscript by Farrell and others, 2009.

Schematic diagram illustrating the difference between a main shock with aftershocks (top), a sequences of foreshocks, main shock, and aftershocks (middle), and a seismic swarm (bottom).  Adapted from manuscript by Farrell and others, 2009.

Lake shore with some submerged trees.  Mountains in the background.
Submerged trees at the inlet delta of Stanley Lake, Idaho, due to March 31, 2020, earthquake
Submerged trees at the inlet delta of Stanley Lake, Idaho, due to March 31, 2020, earthquake
Submerged trees at the inlet delta of Stanley Lake, Idaho, due to March 31, 2020, earthquake

Submerged trees at the inlet delta of Stanley Lake, Idaho. Liquefaction during shaking from the March 31, 2020, Stanley earthquake caused ground subsidence and collapse of the delta. Photo by Zach Lifton, Idaho Geological Survey, May 2020.

Grand Prismatic Spring in Midway Geyser Basin Yellowstone
Grand Prismatic Spring in Midway Geyser Basin Yellowstone
Grand Prismatic Spring in Midway Geyser Basin Yellowstone
A person stands next to a ground fissure, several feet long and a few inches wide, in a forested area
Ground fissure along the shore of Stanley Lake, Idaho, resulting from March 31, 2020, earthquake
Ground fissure along the shore of Stanley Lake, Idaho, resulting from March 31, 2020, earthquake
Ground fissure along the shore of Stanley Lake, Idaho, resulting from March 31, 2020, earthquake

Ground fissure along the shore of Stanley Lake, Idaho, cause by liquefaction during shaking from the March 31, 2020, Stanley earthquake. Photo by Zach Lifton, Idaho Geological Survey, May 2020.

relationship between isotopes in hydrothermal gases from Yellowstone and Iceland
Hydrothermal isotopes from Yellowstone and Iceland
Hydrothermal isotopes from Yellowstone and Iceland
Hydrothermal isotopes from Yellowstone and Iceland

The relationship between Δ30 and N2/3He ratios in hydrothermal gases from Iceland and Yellowstone. Δ30 and N2/3He ratios are shown for samples collected from gases in Iceland (yellow circles) and Yellowstone (red circles). The Yellowstone mantle-endmember is arguably indistinguishable in terms of N2/3He from the convecting upper mantle (grey diamonds).

The relationship between Δ30 and N2/3He ratios in hydrothermal gases from Iceland and Yellowstone. Δ30 and N2/3He ratios are shown for samples collected from gases in Iceland (yellow circles) and Yellowstone (red circles). The Yellowstone mantle-endmember is arguably indistinguishable in terms of N2/3He from the convecting upper mantle (grey diamonds).

March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake
March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake viewed on many sensors
March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake viewed on many sensors
March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake viewed on many sensors

Highly sensitive instruments installed deep below the ground surface yield great records of earthquakes near and far. The March 31, 2020, magnitude 6.5 Stanley, Idaho, earthquake shows up very clearly in borehole strainmeter station B944's four different sensors.

Highly sensitive instruments installed deep below the ground surface yield great records of earthquakes near and far. The March 31, 2020, magnitude 6.5 Stanley, Idaho, earthquake shows up very clearly in borehole strainmeter station B944's four different sensors.

March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake station download location
March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake station download location
March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake station download location
March 31, 2020 M6.5 Stanley Idaho earthquake station download location

For every major earthquake in the U.S., UNAVCO downloads high-rate data from all nearby GPS/GNSS stations. The downloads for the March 31, 2020, magnitude 6.5 Stanley, Idaho, earthquake include more than 20 stations in and around Yellowstone. Figure by Christine Puskas (UNAVCO).

For every major earthquake in the U.S., UNAVCO downloads high-rate data from all nearby GPS/GNSS stations. The downloads for the March 31, 2020, magnitude 6.5 Stanley, Idaho, earthquake include more than 20 stations in and around Yellowstone. Figure by Christine Puskas (UNAVCO).

Imperial Geyser with colorful water. Yellowstone
Imperial Geyser looking south, Yellowstone
Imperial Geyser looking south, Yellowstone
Imperial Geyser looking south, Yellowstone

Imperial Geyser hot spring pool in Yellowstone National Park is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.

Imperial Geyser hot spring pool in Yellowstone National Park is about 30 m (about 100 ft) across and contains alkaline-Cl waters with a steam vent in the pool and mudpots outside the pool area (in the upper right part of this photo). USGS Photo by Pat Shanks, 2019.

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