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Images related to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

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Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.
Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.
Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.
Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.

Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in September 1975. National Park Service photograph Dan Ing.

Two photos comparing "cinders" (small spherules) with black cinders on one side and yellow on the other.
Comparison of sulfur "cinders" from two different hot springs in Yellowstone National Park
Comparison of sulfur "cinders" from two different hot springs in Yellowstone National Park
Comparison of sulfur "cinders" from two different hot springs in Yellowstone National Park

A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right).  The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.

A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right).  The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.

Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.  Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone and the third largest in the world. Photograph by Robert Fournier.

Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions

Eruptions of the Yellowstone volcanic system have included the two largest volcanic eruptions in North America in the past few million years; the third largest was at Long Valley in California and produced the Bishop ash bed. The biggest of the Yellowstone eruptions occurred 2.1 million years ago, depositing the Huckleberry Ridge ash bed.

Eruptions of the Yellowstone volcanic system have included the two largest volcanic eruptions in North America in the past few million years; the third largest was at Long Valley in California and produced the Bishop ash bed. The biggest of the Yellowstone eruptions occurred 2.1 million years ago, depositing the Huckleberry Ridge ash bed.

Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field
Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field
Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field
Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field

Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Group from the Heise volcanic field, which preceded the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field.  Most of the cliffs exposed here are rhyolitic, densely welded, rhyolitic pyroclastic density flow deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2005).

Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Group from the Heise volcanic field, which preceded the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field.  Most of the cliffs exposed here are rhyolitic, densely welded, rhyolitic pyroclastic density flow deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2005).

Densely welded rhyolites from the central Snake River Plain
Densely welded rhyolites from the central Snake River Plain
Densely welded rhyolites from the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain

Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain showing a thick sequence of 10-12 million-year-old, densely welded, pyroclastic density flow units (darker units from middle of photo to top of hill) overlying a thick sequence of white, friable, ash fall deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2004).

Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain showing a thick sequence of 10-12 million-year-old, densely welded, pyroclastic density flow units (darker units from middle of photo to top of hill) overlying a thick sequence of white, friable, ash fall deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2004).

Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. Travertine deposits are abundant in the area. Photo by JoAnn Holloway, 2003.

Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park
Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park
Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park
Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park

Slow cooling of a basaltic lava flow that was erupted about 500,000 years ago resulted in the formation of hexagonal columns at Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park.

Slow cooling of a basaltic lava flow that was erupted about 500,000 years ago resulted in the formation of hexagonal columns at Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park.

Black and white simplified geological map
Simplified geologic map of Sepulcher Mountain area, northern Yellowstone National Park
Simplified geologic map of Sepulcher Mountain area, northern Yellowstone National Park
Simplified geologic map of Sepulcher Mountain area, northern Yellowstone National Park

Simplified geologic map detailing locations of volcanics at Sepulcher Mountain and igneous intrusion at Electric Peak and surrounding area. This map is Fig. 2.

Columnar-jointed lava flow in the wall of the Yellowstone River canyon
Columnar-jointed lava flow in the wall of the Yellowstone River canyon
Columnar-jointed lava flow in the wall of the Yellowstone River canyon
Columnar-jointed lava flow in the wall of the Yellowstone River canyon

A 1.5-million-year-old basaltic lava flow in the canyon wall of the Yellowstone River as viewed from Calcite Springs Overlook near Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park.  Slow cooling of this lava flow resulted in the formation of vertical columns.  Glacial gravels are present above and below the lava flow.

A 1.5-million-year-old basaltic lava flow in the canyon wall of the Yellowstone River as viewed from Calcite Springs Overlook near Tower Junction in Yellowstone National Park.  Slow cooling of this lava flow resulted in the formation of vertical columns.  Glacial gravels are present above and below the lava flow.

Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake
Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake
Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake
Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake

Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake showing hydrothermal features in the north part of the lake, including Elliott's Crater, Mary Bay, and Deep Hole.  Colors correspond to lake depth, with cooler colors indicating greater depths.

Criteria for estimation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
Criteria for estimation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
Criteria for estimation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
Criteria for estimation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)

Criteria for estimation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).  Modified from: Newhall, C.G., and Self, S., 1982, The volcanic explosivity index (VEI): An estimate of explosive magnitude for historical volcanism. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 87, no. C2, p.

Criteria for estimation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).  Modified from: Newhall, C.G., and Self, S., 1982, The volcanic explosivity index (VEI): An estimate of explosive magnitude for historical volcanism. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 87, no. C2, p.

MODIS satellite image of New Zealand’s North Island
MODIS satellite image of New Zealand’s North Island
MODIS satellite image of New Zealand’s North Island
MODIS satellite image of New Zealand’s North Island

MODIS satellite image of New Zealand’s North Island acquired on October 23, 2002 (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/3101/new-zealand).  Lake Taupō is located in the center of North Island.

A hinged metal cover, flush with the ground, is open, exposing a metal rod just below the ground surface.
Benchmark T366, north of Canyon Junction in Yellowstone National Park
Benchmark T366, north of Canyon Junction in Yellowstone National Park
Benchmark T366, north of Canyon Junction in Yellowstone National Park

Benchmark T366, was installed in 1987 a few miles north of Canyon Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Rather than being a brass or aluminum disk, the benchmark is a rod that was driven into the ground until it would not sink any lower.  The precise elevation of the top of the rod was established by surveying methods, and an access cover flush with the g

Benchmark T366, was installed in 1987 a few miles north of Canyon Junction in Yellowstone National Park. Rather than being a brass or aluminum disk, the benchmark is a rod that was driven into the ground until it would not sink any lower.  The precise elevation of the top of the rod was established by surveying methods, and an access cover flush with the g

Schematic sketch map of mountain ranges  and valleys that might have existed in Yellowstone before 2.2 million years ago
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism
Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism

Interpretive reconstruction of the Yellowstone Plateau region before initial plateau volcanism (a little before 2 million years ago). The region was entirely an elevated and faulted mountainous terrain with no basin in the present plateau area.

Geological Map of the Monument Geyser Basin area
Geological Map of the Monument Geyser Basin area
Geological Map of the Monument Geyser Basin area
Geological Map of the Monument Geyser Basin area

Geological Map of the area around Monument Geyser Basin and Beryl Spring, taken from the Geological Map of the Yellowstone Plateau Area (Christiansen, 2001)

Geological Map of the area around Monument Geyser Basin and Beryl Spring, taken from the Geological Map of the Yellowstone Plateau Area (Christiansen, 2001)

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