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Want to know the number and pattern of earthquakes that occurred in the Yellowstone region in 2023? Or what interesting new geyser activity took place that year? The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s 2023 Annual Report has those details and much more!
Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Every year since 2017, YVO has summarized yearly geological activity—earthquakes, ground deformation, geyser eruptions, and so forth—and research efforts and findings in a series of annual reports. In these products you can find information about the numbers of seismic swarms in a given year, or the progress made on geologic mapping and dating of Yellowstone deposits, and even the thermal emissions from Yellowstone National Park as detected by satellites.
We’re pleased to announce that the 2023 annual report has just been published and is now freely available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/cir1524. As is traditional, the summary highlights monitoring data collected over the course of the year. For instance, there were 1,623 earthquakes located in the region in 2023, the largest of which was M3.7. This number of earthquakes was down from the 2,429 that were located in 2022 and the 2,773 that occurred in 2021.
In 2023 there were 24 earthquake swarms, which are groupings of earthquakes that are clustered together in both space and time. The most significant swarm of the year occurred a few miles to the southeast of West Yellowstone, Montana, in mid-March and included 138 located events.
As has been the trend since 2015, Yellowstone Caldera subsided by 1–2 inches (2–3 centimeters) over the course of the year, interrupted during the summer months by a pause or minor amount of uplift due to seasonal changes in groundwater conditions and snowmelt. Little significant deformation has been detected in the area of Norris Geyser Basin since 2018.
Thermal emissions showed no significant changes compared to previous years. Park-wide estimates of heat output measured by thermal infrared satellite data indicated about 2.0 gigawatts of geothermal radiative power output, with Norris Geyser Basin ranking first among Yellowstone National Park’s geyser basins in terms of thermal emissions. The total amount of chloride measured in Yellowstone rivers—an indication of how much thermal water is emitted by geysers and hot springs—was also similar to that of previous years.
Geyser activity in Yellowstone National Park remained interesting and unpredictable in 2023. Steamboat Geyser erupted 9 times during the year, which is the lowest number of annual eruptions since the current eruption cycle began in 2018. Giant Geyser, in Upper Geyser Basin, erupted for the first time since 2019. Also in the Upper Geyser Basin, a stretch of boardwalk on Geyser Hill between Sponge and Aurum Geysers was closed in late May 2023 due to the reactivation of older, and formation of new, thermal features, some of which splashed debris and hot water onto the boardwalk. This activity resembled that which occurred in the same area in 2018 and is an example of the dynamic nature of Yellowstone’s geyser systems. The activity declined in June and July, and the boardwalk was reopened in August.
To better monitor, and perhaps anticipate, changes in Yellowstone National Park’s hydrothermal system, YVO scientists installed the first monitoring site specifically intended to track geyser and hot spring activity. The station was installed in the Ragged Hills area of Norris Geyser Basin in September 2023 and includes a broadband seismometer, meteorological sensors, a continuous GPS instrument, and an infrasound array. Infrasound refers to low-frequency sound waves, inaudible to humans, that can indicate activity associated with geysers, volcanic eruptions, meteor impacts, nuclear explosions, and other natural and human-caused processes. The sensors have already paid dividends, characterizing multiple eruptions of Steamboat Geyser and detecting small earthquakes local to the Norris area.
Geologic research also progressed across a range of topics. Notable in 2023 was the completion of work on dating lava flows that erupted between 160,000 and 70,000 years ago. The results showed that multiple lava flows were active during 5 distinct episodes, which changes the way we think of these eruptions. Rather than lava flow activity that was spread out over time, it is possible that there were multiple lava flows happening at the same time within Yellowstone Caldera! In addition, geologists from the Wyoming State Geological Survey and Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology began a study of the East Gallatin - Reese Creek Fault System, which runs north-south through the northwest part of Yellowstone National Park, near Mammoth Hot Springs, and that has generated strong earthquakes within the past several thousand years.
2024 is shaping up to be a similarly productive year for YVO, with a number of monitoring station upgrades and geological research projects already underway. Stay tuned to Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles for details on the latest on geological activity and research findings!
Lava flows are one of the coolest (or maybe hottest!) features about volcanoes, but what would a lava flow look like if you could peel away the surface and take a peek underneath?
Lava flows are one of the coolest (or maybe hottest!) features about volcanoes, but what would a lava flow look like if you could peel away the surface and take a peek underneath?
Yellowstone is a geologic wonderland with over 2 billion years of Earth's history recorded in the rocks. But some of that history is missing. Where did it go? We’ll look into that mystery in the October 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Yellowstone is a geologic wonderland with over 2 billion years of Earth's history recorded in the rocks. But some of that history is missing. Where did it go? We’ll look into that mystery in the October 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales? The answer might not be what you think.
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales? The answer might not be what you think.
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales?
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales?
Geysers and hot springs are some of the most dynamic geologic features on the planet. They are always changing and sometimes that change happens in places where we can see and appreciate it. This has been the case on Geyser Hill, near Old Faithful, in Yellowstone National Park.
Geysers and hot springs are some of the most dynamic geologic features on the planet. They are always changing and sometimes that change happens in places where we can see and appreciate it. This has been the case on Geyser Hill, near Old Faithful, in Yellowstone National Park.
Old Faithful, one of the icons of Yellowstone National Park and probably the most famous geyser in the world. But how faithful is it really? That's the question we're going to tackle in this June 1, 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Old Faithful, one of the icons of Yellowstone National Park and probably the most famous geyser in the world. But how faithful is it really? That's the question we're going to tackle in this June 1, 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
May is traditionally the start of the field season and plans are underway to strengthen monitoring networks, collect data, and conduct research to better understand volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, outlines upcoming projects in this YVO monthly video update for May 1, 2023.
May is traditionally the start of the field season and plans are underway to strengthen monitoring networks, collect data, and conduct research to better understand volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, outlines upcoming projects in this YVO monthly video update for May 1, 2023.
Do animals prank humans? It sometimes feels that way, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland. Mike shows some of the ways animals have “interacted” with monitoring equipment in this April 1, 2023 monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano.
Do animals prank humans? It sometimes feels that way, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland. Mike shows some of the ways animals have “interacted” with monitoring equipment in this April 1, 2023 monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Lava flows are one of the coolest (or maybe hottest!) features about volcanoes, but what would a lava flow look like if you could peel away the surface and take a peek underneath?
Lava flows are one of the coolest (or maybe hottest!) features about volcanoes, but what would a lava flow look like if you could peel away the surface and take a peek underneath?
Yellowstone is a geologic wonderland with over 2 billion years of Earth's history recorded in the rocks. But some of that history is missing. Where did it go? We’ll look into that mystery in the October 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Yellowstone is a geologic wonderland with over 2 billion years of Earth's history recorded in the rocks. But some of that history is missing. Where did it go? We’ll look into that mystery in the October 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales? The answer might not be what you think.
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales? The answer might not be what you think.
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales?
What geologic hazard is most likely to occur in the Yellowstone region on human timescales?
Geysers and hot springs are some of the most dynamic geologic features on the planet. They are always changing and sometimes that change happens in places where we can see and appreciate it. This has been the case on Geyser Hill, near Old Faithful, in Yellowstone National Park.
Geysers and hot springs are some of the most dynamic geologic features on the planet. They are always changing and sometimes that change happens in places where we can see and appreciate it. This has been the case on Geyser Hill, near Old Faithful, in Yellowstone National Park.
Old Faithful, one of the icons of Yellowstone National Park and probably the most famous geyser in the world. But how faithful is it really? That's the question we're going to tackle in this June 1, 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Old Faithful, one of the icons of Yellowstone National Park and probably the most famous geyser in the world. But how faithful is it really? That's the question we're going to tackle in this June 1, 2023 update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
May is traditionally the start of the field season and plans are underway to strengthen monitoring networks, collect data, and conduct research to better understand volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, outlines upcoming projects in this YVO monthly video update for May 1, 2023.
May is traditionally the start of the field season and plans are underway to strengthen monitoring networks, collect data, and conduct research to better understand volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region. Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, outlines upcoming projects in this YVO monthly video update for May 1, 2023.
Do animals prank humans? It sometimes feels that way, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland. Mike shows some of the ways animals have “interacted” with monitoring equipment in this April 1, 2023 monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano.
Do animals prank humans? It sometimes feels that way, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland. Mike shows some of the ways animals have “interacted” with monitoring equipment in this April 1, 2023 monthly update of activity at Yellowstone Volcano.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Could an external event trigger a Yellowstone eruption? No, says Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge Mike Poland, that’s not how volcanoes work. Most of the pressure that drives a volcano toward eruption comes from within, from the exsolution of gases in the magmatic system.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Winter has arrived in the Yellowstone region. The deep snow and cold temperatures are harsh for animals, harsh for humans, and also harsh for volcano monitoring equipment.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, provides an overview of 2022 events and December activity in this monthly update for January 1, 2023.