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Schematic of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff magma storage configuration
Schematic of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff magma storage configuration
Schematic of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff magma storage configuration
Schematic of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff magma storage configuration

Schematic of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff magma storage configuration, consisting of discrete batches of magma. Analyzing the compositions of melt inclusions can help paint this type of big picture of the magmatic system. Figure modified from Myers et al. (2016).

Schematic of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff magma storage configuration, consisting of discrete batches of magma. Analyzing the compositions of melt inclusions can help paint this type of big picture of the magmatic system. Figure modified from Myers et al. (2016).

Melt inclusions in a quartz crystal from the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff
Melt inclusions in a quartz crystal from the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff
Melt inclusions in a quartz crystal from the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff
Melt inclusions in a quartz crystal from the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff

Melt inclusions (<50 micrometers in diameter) in a quartz crystal from the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, erupted 2.1 million years ago. Photomicrograph taken by Behnaz Hosseini at Montana State University.

Melt inclusions (<50 micrometers in diameter) in a quartz crystal from the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, erupted 2.1 million years ago. Photomicrograph taken by Behnaz Hosseini at Montana State University.

Illustration of the crystal growth process that leads to melt inclusion entrapment
Illustration of the crystal growth process that leads to melt inclusion entrapment
Illustration of the crystal growth process that leads to melt inclusion entrapment
Illustration of the crystal growth process that leads to melt inclusion entrapment

Illustration of the crystal growth process that leads to melt inclusion entrapment. (a) A crystal (gray area) nucleates and grows. (b) As the magma cools, the crystal corners will grow more efficiently than crystal edges. (c) This growth process will lead to the entrapment of surrounding melt (orange area).

Illustration of the crystal growth process that leads to melt inclusion entrapment. (a) A crystal (gray area) nucleates and grows. (b) As the magma cools, the crystal corners will grow more efficiently than crystal edges. (c) This growth process will lead to the entrapment of surrounding melt (orange area).

Map of the locations of water samples collected in and around Yellowstone National Park, 1883-2021
Map of the locations of water samples collected in and around Yellowstone National Park, 1883-2021
Map of the locations of water samples collected in and around Yellowstone National Park, 1883-2021
Map of the locations of water samples collected in and around Yellowstone National Park, 1883-2021

Map of the locations of water samples collected in and around Yellowstone National Park and detailed in the USGS Data Release "Historic Water Chemistry Data for Thermal Features, Streams, and Rivers in the Yellowstone National Park Area, 1883-2021." Colors indicate type of water sample.

Map of Yellowstone earthquakes that were located during 1973-2023
Map of Yellowstone earthquakes that were located during 1973-2023
Map of Yellowstone earthquakes that were located during 1973-2023
Map of Yellowstone earthquakes that were located during 1973-2023

Map of Yellowstone earthquakes that were located during 1973-2023. Red circles are earthquakes located in the Yellowstone region, and blue circles indicate swarm seismicity.  The size of the circle scales with the magnitude of the earthquake.

Map of Yellowstone earthquakes that were located during 1973-2023. Red circles are earthquakes located in the Yellowstone region, and blue circles indicate swarm seismicity.  The size of the circle scales with the magnitude of the earthquake.

Histogram of Yellowstone earthquakes during 1973-2023
Histogram of Yellowstone earthquakes during 1973-2023
Histogram of Yellowstone earthquakes during 1973-2023
Histogram of Yellowstone earthquakes during 1973-2023

Histogram showing the number of earthquakes per 3-month period (quarter) in the Yellowstone region during 1973–2023.  Red bars represent all earthquakes located in the area, and blue bars indicate swarm seismicity.

Histogram showing the number of earthquakes per 3-month period (quarter) in the Yellowstone region during 1973–2023.  Red bars represent all earthquakes located in the area, and blue bars indicate swarm seismicity.

Videos

Man smirks with "Volcanoes in Kansas?" on top of a U.S. map with volcanic eruption in the background. Kansas covered in ash? Yellowstone's aftermath (Yellowstone Volcano Update - March 2024)
Kansas covered in ash? Yellowstone's aftermath (Yellowstone Volcano Update - March 2024)
Kansas covered in ash? Yellowstone's aftermath (Yellowstone Volcano Update - March 2024)

Volcanic ash in Kansas? It's true there's thick deposits there, but where are the source volcanoes? Geologists began puzzling over this in the late 1800s when these deposits were first recognized. 

Volcanic ash in Kansas? It's true there's thick deposits there, but where are the source volcanoes? Geologists began puzzling over this in the late 1800s when these deposits were first recognized. 

Whisper or Roar? No more secrets Whisper or Roar? No More Secrets (Yellowstone Volcano Update - Feb 2024)
Whisper or Roar? No More Secrets (Yellowstone Volcano Update - Feb 2024)
Whisper or Roar? No More Secrets (Yellowstone Volcano Update - Feb 2024)

If a geyser erupts and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Of course it does, and now we can hear it no matter when it happens thanks to a new monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park.

If a geyser erupts and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Of course it does, and now we can hear it no matter when it happens thanks to a new monitoring station in Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory - Top 5 Updates of 2023 Top 5 Updates of 2023 — Yellowstone Volcano Update for January 2024
Top 5 Updates of 2023 — Yellowstone Volcano Update for January 2024
Top 5 Updates of 2023 — Yellowstone Volcano Update for January 2024

In this monthly update of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, we present our take on the top five headlines for 2023.

0:12 - Earthquakes, Deformation

1:20 - Steamboat Geyser Eruptions

2:30 - New Monitoring for Hydrothermal

3:24 - Volcanic Eruptions at Yellowstone

4:34 - Magma Chamber below Yellowstone

 

In this monthly update of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, we present our take on the top five headlines for 2023.

0:12 - Earthquakes, Deformation

1:20 - Steamboat Geyser Eruptions

2:30 - New Monitoring for Hydrothermal

3:24 - Volcanic Eruptions at Yellowstone

4:34 - Magma Chamber below Yellowstone

 

Steamboat. Losing Steam? Steamboat: Losing steam?
Steamboat: Losing steam?
Steamboat: Losing steam?

Steamboat Geyser is the tallest geyser in the world. It has been putting on a show the last few years for visitors at Yellowstone National Park with a record number of water eruptions, 48 eruptions each in 2019 and 2020. But it's only had eight eruptions in 2023. Is Steamboat losing steam? 

Steamboat Geyser is the tallest geyser in the world. It has been putting on a show the last few years for visitors at Yellowstone National Park with a record number of water eruptions, 48 eruptions each in 2019 and 2020. But it's only had eight eruptions in 2023. Is Steamboat losing steam? 

View of steep lava mountain with title text and description. Lava Onion? Lava flows - peeling back the layers (Yellowstone Volcano Update - November 2023)
Lava Onion? Lava flows - peeling back the layers (Yellowstone Volcano Update - November 2023)
Lava Onion? Lava flows - peeling back the layers (Yellowstone Volcano Update - November 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?

A rocky cap on a mountain, with text overlay reading "Tuff Time: Mystery of disappearing deposits" TUFF TIME: Mystery of disappearing deposits (Yellowstone Volcano Update - October 2023)
TUFF TIME: Mystery of disappearing deposits (Yellowstone Volcano Update - October 2023)
TUFF TIME: Mystery of disappearing deposits (Yellowstone Volcano Update - October 2023)

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.

Audio

Sounds of Yellowstone, Steamboat Geyser
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Steamboat Geyser — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Steamboat Geyser — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Sounds of Yellowstone, Steamboat Geyser
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Steamboat Geyser — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the gurgling and bubbly sounds of Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Steamboat Geyser is the world’s tallest active geyser. It showers watchers and drenches the walkway. Days, months, or years pass between the major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the gurgling and bubbly sounds of Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Steamboat Geyser is the world’s tallest active geyser. It showers watchers and drenches the walkway. Days, months, or years pass between the major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser.

USGS CoreCast
USGS CoreCast Series
USGS CoreCast Series
Is Something Brewing in Yellowstone?
Is Something Brewing in Yellowstone?
USGS CoreCast
USGS CoreCast Series
USGS CoreCast Series
Is Something Brewing in Yellowstone?

Yellowstone National Park has experienced several hundred small earthquakes in the past few weeks. So what's going on?

Dr. Jake Lowenstern, USGS Scientist-In-Charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, tells us what's happening and how scientists monitor volcano and earthquake activity at Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park has experienced several hundred small earthquakes in the past few weeks. So what's going on?

Dr. Jake Lowenstern, USGS Scientist-In-Charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, tells us what's happening and how scientists monitor volcano and earthquake activity at Yellowstone.

Webcams

Overlooking forest and lake
Webcam at Yellowstone Lake
Webcam at Yellowstone Lake
Webcam at Yellowstone Lake

The camera view is south-southeast over Yellowstone Lake from the cell phone tower near Fishing Bridge. Stevenson Island is visible within the lake on the right. The view extends down the Southeast Arm between the Promontory (low ridge rising from the lake) and the eastern shore.

The camera view is south-southeast over Yellowstone Lake from the cell phone tower near Fishing Bridge. Stevenson Island is visible within the lake on the right. The view extends down the Southeast Arm between the Promontory (low ridge rising from the lake) and the eastern shore.