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Images related to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

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Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968
Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968
Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968
Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968

Eruptions from drill rods during research drilling in Yellowstone National Park, 1967–1968. Left panel shows initial explosive eruption of water-steam mixture from open drill pipe in drill hole Y-5 (Rabbit Creek) on August 20, 1967.

Bob Fournier (left) and Don White (right) at the Y3 drilling site in Yellowstone National Park
Bob Fournier (left) and Don White (right) at the Y3 drilling site in Yellowstone National Park
Bob Fournier (left) and Don White (right) at the Y3 drilling site in Yellowstone National Park
Bob Fournier (left) and Don White (right) at the Y3 drilling site in Yellowstone National Park

Bob Fournier (left) and Don White (right) at the Y3 drilling site in Pocket Basin adjacent to Ojo Caliente, Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, in 1967.  USGS Photo.

Plot showing the solubility of amorphous silica in water as a function of temperature
Plot showing the solubility of amorphous silica in water as a function of temperature
Plot showing the solubility of amorphous silica in water as a function of temperature
Plot showing the solubility of amorphous silica in water as a function of temperature

The solubility of amorphous silica (solid silica with no crystal structure) in water as a function of temperature. When deep groundwater flows through hot rhyolite it can remove silica from the rhyolite (dissolve silica).

Pocket Basin orthophoto
Pocket Basin orthophoto
Pocket Basin orthophoto
Pocket Basin orthophoto

This orthophoto of Pocket Basin, a hydrothermal explosion crater in Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, was created from aerial photos taken in 1965 that were corrected to have uniform scale for use in geologic mapping.

This orthophoto of Pocket Basin, a hydrothermal explosion crater in Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, was created from aerial photos taken in 1965 that were corrected to have uniform scale for use in geologic mapping.

Black and white photo of President John F. Kennedy surrounded by people in suits signing a document
President Kennedy signs the nuclear test ban treaty for the United States in 1963
President Kennedy signs the nuclear test ban treaty for the United States in 1963
President Kennedy signs the nuclear test ban treaty for the United States in 1963

President Kennedy signs the nuclear test ban treaty for the United States in 1963. Photo from National Archives, Still Pictures Division, Department of State Collection 59-0, box 23 (https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB94/tb02.htm).

Early aerial thermal infrared images from Yellowstone National Park
Early aerial thermal infrared images from Yellowstone National Park
Early aerial thermal infrared images from Yellowstone National Park
Early aerial thermal infrared images from Yellowstone National Park

Top: the first thermal infrared images of Yellowstone (1961).  Warm areas are brighter; cold areas are darker.  These images were published in: McLerran, J.H. and Morgan, J.O. (1965) Thermal mapping of Yellowstone National Park.

Top: the first thermal infrared images of Yellowstone (1961).  Warm areas are brighter; cold areas are darker.  These images were published in: McLerran, J.H. and Morgan, J.O. (1965) Thermal mapping of Yellowstone National Park.

Lower Geyser Basin from Great Fountain Geyser
Lower Geyser Basin from Great Fountain Geyser
Lower Geyser Basin from Great Fountain Geyser
Lower Geyser Basin from Great Fountain Geyser

View of Lower Geyser Basin. Note active thermal pools (Great Fountain Geyser) in the foreground with thermal grasslands—kept treeless by hot soils—and lodgepole pine forest in the distance. Photo by George Marler, 1959.

View of Lower Geyser Basin. Note active thermal pools (Great Fountain Geyser) in the foreground with thermal grasslands—kept treeless by hot soils—and lodgepole pine forest in the distance. Photo by George Marler, 1959.

Aerial view of Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool, and part of Wall Pool, all in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, taken in 1959
Aerial view of Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool, and part of Wall Pool, all in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, taken in 1959
Aerial view of Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool, and part of Wall Pool, all in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, taken in 1959
Aerial view of Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool, and part of Wall Pool, all in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, taken in 1959

Aerial view of Black Opal Pool, Black Diamond Pool, and part of Wall Pool, all in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, taken in 1959 sometime after the Hebgen Lake earthquake (which occurred on August 17 of that year).

Dragline work to lower the outlet channel of Earthquake Lake on October 18, 1959
Dragline working to lower the outlet channel of Earthquake Lake on October 18, 1959
Dragline working to lower the outlet channel of Earthquake Lake on October 18, 1959
Dragline working to lower the outlet channel of Earthquake Lake on October 18, 1959

Dragline work to lower the outlet channel of Earthquake Lake on October 18, 1959. The tripod on the hill at center left is one of five lighting plants that allowed nighttime work. Note the “bathtub ring” of killed trees along the shoreline marking the high stand of Earthquake Lake before lowering of the outlet channel. Photo by Mrs. Steven W. Nile (Dr.

Dragline work to lower the outlet channel of Earthquake Lake on October 18, 1959. The tripod on the hill at center left is one of five lighting plants that allowed nighttime work. Note the “bathtub ring” of killed trees along the shoreline marking the high stand of Earthquake Lake before lowering of the outlet channel. Photo by Mrs. Steven W. Nile (Dr.

View of the Madison Slide on August 21, 1959 with rapidly filling Earthquake Lake
View of the Madison Slide on August 21, 1959 with rapidly filling Earthquake Lake
View of the Madison Slide on August 21, 1959 with rapidly filling Earthquake Lake
View of the Madison Slide on August 21, 1959 with rapidly filling Earthquake Lake

View of the Madison Slide on August 21, 1959 with rapidly filling Earthquake Lake. Rock Creek Campground was near the flooded trees. Camping gear was left behind by survivors who sought high ground following the slide. Photo by Professor William B. Hall, Montana School of Mines Geology Department.

View of the Madison Slide on August 21, 1959 with rapidly filling Earthquake Lake. Rock Creek Campground was near the flooded trees. Camping gear was left behind by survivors who sought high ground following the slide. Photo by Professor William B. Hall, Montana School of Mines Geology Department.

Irving Friedman (left) and William D. Long in 1958 in a USGS laboratory in Washington, D.C.
Irving Friedman (left) and William D. Long in 1958 in a USGS laboratory in Washington, D.C.
Irving Friedman (left) and William D. Long in 1958 in a USGS laboratory in Washington, D.C.
An old sign and pile of coins in front of Morning Glory Pool in 1950.
An old sign and pile of coins in front of Morning Glory Pool in 1950.
An old sign and pile of coins in front of Morning Glory Pool in 1950.
An old sign and pile of coins in front of Morning Glory Pool in 1950.

An old sign and pile of coins in front of Morning Glory Pool in 1950. National Park Service Photograph by Condon.

Ash plume from Paracutin Volcano, Mexico, sometime during 1946-1948
Ash plume from Paracutin Volcano, Mexico, sometime during 1946-1948
Ash plume from Paracutin Volcano, Mexico, sometime during 1946-1948
Ash plume from Paracutin Volcano, Mexico, sometime during 1946-1948

An ash plume rises from the summit crater of Parícutin sometime during 1946-48. A thick ash deposit covers the foreground. An estimated 4,500 cattle and 550 horses died during the heavy ashfall in the early months of the eruption, devastating the local people who depended on the animals for food, plowing, and transportation.

An ash plume rises from the summit crater of Parícutin sometime during 1946-48. A thick ash deposit covers the foreground. An estimated 4,500 cattle and 550 horses died during the heavy ashfall in the early months of the eruption, devastating the local people who depended on the animals for food, plowing, and transportation.

Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area 1942
Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area in 1942
Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area in 1942
Road work at Beryl Spring to divert around hydrothermal area in 1942

Beryl Spring is a hydrothermal area in some restrictive topography! The road from Norris Geyser Basin to Madison Junction follows the Gibbon River through a tight valley. With not much of a choice, the road threads between the river and Beryl Spring over some exceedingly hot ground.

Beryl Spring is a hydrothermal area in some restrictive topography! The road from Norris Geyser Basin to Madison Junction follows the Gibbon River through a tight valley. With not much of a choice, the road threads between the river and Beryl Spring over some exceedingly hot ground.

Reproduction of a poster showing chemical contents of water from Apollinaris Spring
Poster with chemical composition of water from Apollinaris Spring
Poster with chemical composition of water from Apollinaris Spring
Poster with chemical composition of water from Apollinaris Spring

Poster containing information about the chemical composition of water from Apollinaris Spring. Analysis is from 1906, but this poster is from the 1920s, when Horace Albright was the park’s Superintendent. Posters like this were posted in hotels and at the spring itself. 

Poster containing information about the chemical composition of water from Apollinaris Spring. Analysis is from 1906, but this poster is from the 1920s, when Horace Albright was the park’s Superintendent. Posters like this were posted in hotels and at the spring itself. 

Colored 1920s postcard with two people on a stone platform hosting a cold water spring within a forested area
Haynes postcard showing Apollinaris Spring sometime after its 1925 renovation
Haynes postcard showing Apollinaris Spring sometime after its 1925 renovation
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