Hydrologic Monitoring in Yellowstone National Park
River-Discharge and Chloride-Concentration Data
Analysis of long-term river discharge and chloride concentrations in
major rivers in Yellowstone provide a quantitative estimate of the
total heat discharge from the Yellowstone volcanic system and can also
be examined for temporal trends associated with magmatic and tectonic
activity. Learn more.
Hydrologic Data (from the U.S. Geological Survey)
- Stream discharge and temperature at Tantalus Creek, Norris Geyser Basin
- Provisional real-time stream-flow data from the USGS of the major rivers draining Yellowstone National Park.
Thermal-Feature Data
Heat and
volcanic gases rise from
the Yellowstone magma chamber and warm the salty water that occupies
fractured rocks above the Yellowstone magma chamber. That brine, in
turn, transfers its heat to overlying fresh groundwater, which is
recharged by rainfall and snowmelt from the surface. This superheated
water can flash to steam, propelling both steam and hot water to the
surface as a geyser. Steamboat, located in Norris Geyser Basin, is one
of Yellowstone's most famous geysers. Yellowstone Park staff recently
began monitoring the outlet channel of Steamboat Geyser.
