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Images related to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
A geologist examples a basaltic lava flow along the Madison River, looking for an area that can yield samples suitable for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. USGS photo by Jorge Vazquez, June 2017.
A geologist examples a basaltic lava flow along the Madison River, looking for an area that can yield samples suitable for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. USGS photo by Jorge Vazquez, June 2017.
The geology of the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness area in central Idaho includes the Challis volcanics, which erupted about 52–45 million years ago. Photo by Matt Liedecker, Bureau of Land Management, May 23, 2017 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmidaho/34808808006/).
The geology of the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness area in central Idaho includes the Challis volcanics, which erupted about 52–45 million years ago. Photo by Matt Liedecker, Bureau of Land Management, May 23, 2017 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmidaho/34808808006/).
Geophysicist Elske de Zeeuw-van Dalfsen (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) collects a gravity reading from a station near Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone National Park. Gravity data collection was completed under Yellowstone National Park research permit 7074.
Geophysicist Elske de Zeeuw-van Dalfsen (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) collects a gravity reading from a station near Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone National Park. Gravity data collection was completed under Yellowstone National Park research permit 7074.
Plowing operations in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Jake Frank, March 28, 2017.
Plowing operations in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Jake Frank, March 28, 2017.
Computed mineral saturation indices (log(Q/K)) as a function of temperature for a geothermal water sample from Surprise Valley, California, after correction for CO2 loss due to degassing. Note that the mineral saturation points converge at 220 °C (428 °F) with a very small error of +/- 4 °C (7 °F).
Computed mineral saturation indices (log(Q/K)) as a function of temperature for a geothermal water sample from Surprise Valley, California, after correction for CO2 loss due to degassing. Note that the mineral saturation points converge at 220 °C (428 °F) with a very small error of +/- 4 °C (7 °F).
Photograph of eddy covariance and Multi-GAS stations that were deployed in a temporary configuration near Norris Geyser Basin in 2016. Research conducted under permit YELL-2016-SCI-7082.
Photograph of eddy covariance and Multi-GAS stations that were deployed in a temporary configuration near Norris Geyser Basin in 2016. Research conducted under permit YELL-2016-SCI-7082.
Helicopter with airborne electromagnetics sensors dangling beneath as it flies over a portion of Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Jeff Hungerford, November 2016.
Helicopter with airborne electromagnetics sensors dangling beneath as it flies over a portion of Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Jeff Hungerford, November 2016.
Kullenberg coring platform from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Continental Scientific Drilling facility used to collect long (up to 12 m, or 40 feet) sediment cores from Yellowstone Lake. Photo taken in September 2016 by Lisa Morgan.
Kullenberg coring platform from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Continental Scientific Drilling facility used to collect long (up to 12 m, or 40 feet) sediment cores from Yellowstone Lake. Photo taken in September 2016 by Lisa Morgan.
Cut polycarbonate sections of sediment core collected from core YL16-3A from the Deep Hole, the deepest part of Yellowstone Lake at about 119 m (390 feet) depth, southeast of Stevenson Island. Photo taken in September 2016 by Lisa Morgan.
Cut polycarbonate sections of sediment core collected from core YL16-3A from the Deep Hole, the deepest part of Yellowstone Lake at about 119 m (390 feet) depth, southeast of Stevenson Island. Photo taken in September 2016 by Lisa Morgan.
Photograph of north and eastern rim of the 9400-year-old Turbid Lake explosion crater showing the primary explosion ejecta rim with a secondary explosion ejecta rim inside the lake-occupied explosion crater. Many, if not most, larger explosion craters have multiple explosion histories and are long-lived hydrothermal systems.
Photograph of north and eastern rim of the 9400-year-old Turbid Lake explosion crater showing the primary explosion ejecta rim with a secondary explosion ejecta rim inside the lake-occupied explosion crater. Many, if not most, larger explosion craters have multiple explosion histories and are long-lived hydrothermal systems.
Beartooth Mountains looking west northwest from near Beartooth Pass, Wyoming. Photo by Jeff Havig, University of Minnesota, July 20, 2016.
Beartooth Mountains looking west northwest from near Beartooth Pass, Wyoming. Photo by Jeff Havig, University of Minnesota, July 20, 2016.
A Ptychopariid trilobite from Yellowstone National Park. Scale is in millimeters. Specimen located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
A Ptychopariid trilobite from Yellowstone National Park. Scale is in millimeters. Specimen located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
A Ehmania walcotti trilobite from Yellowstone National Park. Scale is in millimeters. Specimen located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
A Ehmania walcotti trilobite from Yellowstone National Park. Scale is in millimeters. Specimen located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Schematic cartoon of an idealized rhyolite lava flow with structures identified. Figure modified from Sweetkind et al. (2015) [https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155022].
Schematic cartoon of an idealized rhyolite lava flow with structures identified. Figure modified from Sweetkind et al. (2015) [https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155022].
Eruptions between 1064 and 1067 AD produced three lava flows that covered 8 km2 (3 mi2) and a field of scoria and spatter that covers 2300 km2 (890 mi2). Archeological evidence shows that there were communities of people living in the area who were impacted by the eruption.
Eruptions between 1064 and 1067 AD produced three lava flows that covered 8 km2 (3 mi2) and a field of scoria and spatter that covers 2300 km2 (890 mi2). Archeological evidence shows that there were communities of people living in the area who were impacted by the eruption.
Top: Thermographic mosaic of Yellowstone acquired by the NASA’s MODIS-ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER), a thermal infrared scanner, in September 2006. Dark shades indicate cool temperatures and bright are warm; this reflects not only hydrothermal activity, but also types of ground cover.
Top: Thermographic mosaic of Yellowstone acquired by the NASA’s MODIS-ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER), a thermal infrared scanner, in September 2006. Dark shades indicate cool temperatures and bright are warm; this reflects not only hydrothermal activity, but also types of ground cover.
Data from GPS station AB53 near the peak of a mountain on Mitkof Island, Alaska, including measured snow depth down at the base of the mountain. Notice how the North (top), east (second from the top), and vertical (third from the top) positions are impacted by the presence of snow. This is an extreme example of the influence of snow on GPS data.
Data from GPS station AB53 near the peak of a mountain on Mitkof Island, Alaska, including measured snow depth down at the base of the mountain. Notice how the North (top), east (second from the top), and vertical (third from the top) positions are impacted by the presence of snow. This is an extreme example of the influence of snow on GPS data.
Map of the Heart Mountain slide block. From Mitchell et al., 2015 ("Catastrophic emplacement of giant landslides aided by thermal decomposition: Heart Mountain, Wyoming." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 411: 199-207), modified from Anders et al. (2010).
Map of the Heart Mountain slide block. From Mitchell et al., 2015 ("Catastrophic emplacement of giant landslides aided by thermal decomposition: Heart Mountain, Wyoming." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 411: 199-207), modified from Anders et al. (2010).
(Left) Sample of the Pitchstone Plateau rhyolite flow, which erupted about 72,000 years ago, making it is the youngest rhyolite at Yellowstone. The blocky white crystals in this sample are the mineral sanidine, whereas the rounded crystals are quartz.
(Left) Sample of the Pitchstone Plateau rhyolite flow, which erupted about 72,000 years ago, making it is the youngest rhyolite at Yellowstone. The blocky white crystals in this sample are the mineral sanidine, whereas the rounded crystals are quartz.
Big Southern Butte, Idaho. The butte is among the largest rhyolite domes in the world and is located in the eastern Snake River Plain. Photo by James Neeley, BLM (https://flic.kr/p/CsA4TV).
Big Southern Butte, Idaho. The butte is among the largest rhyolite domes in the world and is located in the eastern Snake River Plain. Photo by James Neeley, BLM (https://flic.kr/p/CsA4TV).
Lidar coverage of the Hebgen and Red Canyon faults collected in 2014. Magenta lines show fault scarps mapped by USGS geologists shortly after the 1959 earthquake. Yellow lines show fault scarps interpreted from lidar data 55 years after the earthquake.
Lidar coverage of the Hebgen and Red Canyon faults collected in 2014. Magenta lines show fault scarps mapped by USGS geologists shortly after the 1959 earthquake. Yellow lines show fault scarps interpreted from lidar data 55 years after the earthquake.