Yellowstone
Caldera Chronicles
Caldera Chronicles is a weekly article written by U.S. Geological Survey Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists and colleagues.
Aftershocks? Swarm? What is the difference, and what do they mean?
In Yellowstone, we often talk about earthquake swarms. But especially in recent weeks, we’ve also discussed aftershock sequences. What is the difference? And what to these different types of seismic events mean?
Introducing the new and improved YVO website!
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory website has a new and improved look! Now you'll be able to view it all via any sized computer or mobile device with ease!
New geochemical tool reveals origin of Yellowstone's deep nitrogen
In the air we breathe, Oxygen plays an obvious and important role, but it is not the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. That honor belongs to nitrogen. But where did this nitrogen come from? And how much nitrogen is there deep within the Earth? It turns out that measurements at Yellowstone are helping to address these questions and others!
Science with eyes wide open: A tribute to Ken Pierce
Have you ever tried to keep track of all the pieces while playing 3-dimensional chess? Imagine if the 4th dimension—time—was included, and the goal was to understand the evolution of the entire Greater Yellowstone Geoecosystem! That's an apt analogy for the 55-year research career of USGS Scientist Emeritus Ken Pierce.
What's with all these earthquakes? And will they affect Yellowstone?
First, there was the March 18, 2020, magnitude 5.7 (M5.7) earthquake near Salt Lake City. And then there was the M6.5 earthquake in central Idaho on March 31. What's with all of these quakes? And will they affect Yellowstone?
How a thermophilic bacterium from a Yellowstone hot spring is helping the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
We can look back to research describing microbes in Yellowstone hot springs to see how fundamental explorative scientific research is an amazing benefit to humankind.
Geysers—what exactly are they made of?
Today, we shed light on what makes up geyser cones.
Gassy precursors for geyser eruptions?
Our search for eruption precursors focused on gas emissions at Steamboat Geyser. We made repeated measurements over time to look for sudden changes in gas emissions preceding a geyser eruption.
What's Going on Under Norris Geyser Basin?
If there were an Olympic medal for hydrothermal systems, Norris Geyser Basin would bring home the gold.
The roads less traveled in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
What values do these road-less areas offer for science, for recreation, for wildlife? As public land owners, we all shape the future of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and other wild landscapes.
Caldera systems—a worldwide family that is more than just Yellowstone!
Did you know that there are similar caldera systems spread across the globe? And many of these are far more volcanically active than Yellowstone!
Yellowstone's shadow
The lack of any basalt in Yellowstone caldera—the existence of a magmatic "shadow"—is good evidence that the rhyolite magma chamber is still at least partially molten.