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Bathymetric map of the West Thumb Basin showing numerous mapped active or inactive hydrothermal vent sites (small white circles) and sampled hot springs (white stars or larger white circles) and sediment cores (yellow diamonds). The white-black line represents the 160,000-year-old West Thumb Caldera margin. West Thumb Geyser Basin is near the southern en
Bathymetric map of the West Thumb Basin showing numerous mapped active or inactive hydrothermal vent sites (small white circles) and sampled hot springs (white stars or larger white circles) and sediment cores (yellow diamonds). The white-black line represents the 160,000-year-old West Thumb Caldera margin. West Thumb Geyser Basin is near the southern en
Schematic summary of rhyolite eruptions in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field over the past 1.3 million years. Smaller rhyolite eruptions are known intracaldera eruptions, meaning they occurred within existing caldera structures. Additional rhyolite eruptions that occurred outside the caldera are not included in the figure.
Schematic summary of rhyolite eruptions in the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field over the past 1.3 million years. Smaller rhyolite eruptions are known intracaldera eruptions, meaning they occurred within existing caldera structures. Additional rhyolite eruptions that occurred outside the caldera are not included in the figure.
Benchmark C9, installed by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey) in 1923 near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The number stamped into the mark, “7337.580,” is the elevation in feet that was determined by surveys the year the benchmark was established. USGS photo by Michael Poland, September 4, 2024.
Benchmark C9, installed by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey) in 1923 near Apollinaris Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The number stamped into the mark, “7337.580,” is the elevation in feet that was determined by surveys the year the benchmark was established. USGS photo by Michael Poland, September 4, 2024.
Reduced-size map of the Colorado River Basin from the USGS ASIST Initiative, Sept. 3, 2024
Reduced-size map of the Colorado River Basin from the USGS ASIST Initiative, Sept. 3, 2024
Map of the Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico
Map of the Colorado River Basin in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico
Large map of the Colorado River Basin prepared for the USGS Colorado River Basin ASIST Initiative
Large map of the Colorado River Basin prepared for the USGS Colorado River Basin ASIST Initiative
Photo of dead trees along the edge of Nuphar Lake. The white staining at the base of the trees is a telltale sign that the trees were immersed in thermal water containing silica. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 1, 2024.
Photo of dead trees along the edge of Nuphar Lake. The white staining at the base of the trees is a telltale sign that the trees were immersed in thermal water containing silica. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 1, 2024.
High-resolution satellite images of Norris Geyser Basin showing the area of Porcelain Basin and Nuphar Lake (both images cover the same area). In the left image, acquired on April 2, 2024, springs on Porcelain Terrace are full of water, and warm hydrothermal water is flowing into Nuphar Lake from the area circled in yellow. This warm water kept the north
High-resolution satellite images of Norris Geyser Basin showing the area of Porcelain Basin and Nuphar Lake (both images cover the same area). In the left image, acquired on April 2, 2024, springs on Porcelain Terrace are full of water, and warm hydrothermal water is flowing into Nuphar Lake from the area circled in yellow. This warm water kept the north
Looking south from near a pullout along the Mammoth to Norris road just north of the Nymph Lake overlook. On the other side of the marsh is a tree-covered rhyolite lava flow, and at the base of the flow is a new thermal feature marked by a plume of steam and that formed in early August 2024. Photo by Mike Poland, USGS, September 1, 2024.
Looking south from near a pullout along the Mammoth to Norris road just north of the Nymph Lake overlook. On the other side of the marsh is a tree-covered rhyolite lava flow, and at the base of the flow is a new thermal feature marked by a plume of steam and that formed in early August 2024. Photo by Mike Poland, USGS, September 1, 2024.
New steam vent at the base of a hill north of Nymph Lake, west of the highway and between Norris Geyser Basin and Roaring Mountain. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 1, 2024.
New steam vent at the base of a hill north of Nymph Lake, west of the highway and between Norris Geyser Basin and Roaring Mountain. USGS photo by Mike Poland, September 1, 2024.
USGS scientists equipped with gas masks and monitors exploring Death Gulch. Photo by Shaul Hurwitz, September 2024.
USGS scientists equipped with gas masks and monitors exploring Death Gulch. Photo by Shaul Hurwitz, September 2024.
Wahb Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Left: zoomed-out photo of the springs (photo by David Roth, September 2024). Right: close-up photo showing the unique organic material floating on the spring water (photo by Shaul Hurwitz, September 2024).
Wahb Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Left: zoomed-out photo of the springs (photo by David Roth, September 2024). Right: close-up photo showing the unique organic material floating on the spring water (photo by Shaul Hurwitz, September 2024).
Gibbon River near Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park at sunset. USGS Photo by Mike Poland, August 28, 2024.
Gibbon River near Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park at sunset. USGS Photo by Mike Poland, August 28, 2024.
Professor C.J.N. Wilson, FRS, pays due homage to the Lava Creek Tuff ashfall bed in a basin just east of Shell, Wyoming. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University, August 9, 2024.
Professor C.J.N. Wilson, FRS, pays due homage to the Lava Creek Tuff ashfall bed in a basin just east of Shell, Wyoming. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University, August 9, 2024.
Shaded relief location map for the East Gallatin-Reese Creek fault system (EGRCFS) in northwest Yellowstone National Park (YNP). The location of the EGRCFS is shown as mapped in the U.S.
Shaded relief location map for the East Gallatin-Reese Creek fault system (EGRCFS) in northwest Yellowstone National Park (YNP). The location of the EGRCFS is shown as mapped in the U.S.
Abyss Pool is about 16 m (53 ft) deep and contains alkaline-chloride hydrothermal fluids that in the summer of 2024 had a temperature of 181 °F (83 °C).
Abyss Pool is about 16 m (53 ft) deep and contains alkaline-chloride hydrothermal fluids that in the summer of 2024 had a temperature of 181 °F (83 °C).
Mud pots form in a few selected areas of West Thumb Geyser Basin where low-pH acidic fluids dissolve rocks and soil to produce clay-rich muds. USGS photo by Pat Shanks, 2024.
Mud pots form in a few selected areas of West Thumb Geyser Basin where low-pH acidic fluids dissolve rocks and soil to produce clay-rich muds. USGS photo by Pat Shanks, 2024.
Looking southeast at the hydrothermal feature that formed in August 2024 just north of Nymph Lake. Steam is emanating from a vent that is partially full of water to create the frying pan feature nestled in the newly formed vent. A thin grey layer of silica mud covers the vent area. Photo by Jefferson Hungerford, Yellowstone National Park, August 2024.
Looking southeast at the hydrothermal feature that formed in August 2024 just north of Nymph Lake. Steam is emanating from a vent that is partially full of water to create the frying pan feature nestled in the newly formed vent. A thin grey layer of silica mud covers the vent area. Photo by Jefferson Hungerford, Yellowstone National Park, August 2024.
(A) Photomicrograph of a quartz-hosted embayment from the Mesa Falls Tuff. “MI” indicates a glassy inclusion of melt within the crystal. (B) Thickness (in centimeters) and extent of the Mesa Falls ash flow deposit (pink areas) and its source, Henrys Fork Caldera (dashed line). Figure by Kenneth Befus, University of Texas at Austin.
(A) Photomicrograph of a quartz-hosted embayment from the Mesa Falls Tuff. “MI” indicates a glassy inclusion of melt within the crystal. (B) Thickness (in centimeters) and extent of the Mesa Falls ash flow deposit (pink areas) and its source, Henrys Fork Caldera (dashed line). Figure by Kenneth Befus, University of Texas at Austin.
Cinder Pool, located in the southwest part of 100 Spring Plain in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. The pool was known for “cinders” made of sulfur that condensed after rising from a molten layer at the bottom of the pool, but after 2019 those cinders disappeared. Photos from June 2018 (left) and June 2023 (right) by Lauren Harrison.
Cinder Pool, located in the southwest part of 100 Spring Plain in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. The pool was known for “cinders” made of sulfur that condensed after rising from a molten layer at the bottom of the pool, but after 2019 those cinders disappeared. Photos from June 2018 (left) and June 2023 (right) by Lauren Harrison.
Exposure of the Mount Jackson Rhyolite Series vitrophyre at Gibbon River. Boulders of weathered, lichen-covered rock show how easy it is to overlook these new units. Photo by Liv Wheeler, Montana State University, August 2024.
Exposure of the Mount Jackson Rhyolite Series vitrophyre at Gibbon River. Boulders of weathered, lichen-covered rock show how easy it is to overlook these new units. Photo by Liv Wheeler, Montana State University, August 2024.