USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-YVO-2024-09-01T12:17:43+00:00

Summary

Since the hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin on July 23, a number of minor water eruptions have occurred from the pool. Yellowstone Caldera activity remains at background levels, with about 40 located earthquakes in August (maximum = M2.0). Deformation measurements indicate a pause in subsidence (which has been ongoing since 2015) due to seasonal changes in snowmelt and groundwater conditions.

Recent Work and News

After the hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin on July 23, several temporary sensors, including seismometers, temperature probes, and cameras, were established to monitor changes. Those data indicate the occurrence of several smaller events, possibly related to surges of water from the pool that moved rocks around the pool’s periphery and mostly occurring at night. No other thermal features in the region have shown significant changes, and Biscuit Basin remains closed to visitors.

Steamboat Geyser did not erupt during August, but frequent minor activity suggests that an eruption is likely in the coming days to weeks.

Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists were busy in August. Field work included geologic studies of glacial, hydrothermal, and volcanic deposits, maintenance of permanent seismic stations, deployment and maintenance of temporary seismic nodes and other geophysical equipment around Black Diamond Pool, recovery of 16 semipermanent GPS stations that were set up earlier in the spring/summer, and microgravity measurements throughout Yellowstone National Park.  Additional work is planned in September, when geologists will conduct maintenance on the continuous gas sensor near Mud Volcano, collect water and gas samples from various sites around Yellowstone National Park, continue studies of glacial, hydrothermal, and volcanic processes, and perform additional maintenance on seismic and GPS stations.

Seismicity

During August 2024, the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, responsible for the operation and analysis of the Yellowstone Seismic Network, located about 40 earthquakes in the Yellowstone National Park region. The largest event of the month was a micro earthquake of magnitude 2.0 located about 22 miles south of Silver Gate, Montana, on August 11 at 3:12 PM MDT.

There were no swarms identified during the month of August.

Yellowstone earthquake activity is currently at background levels.

Ground Deformation

Since June, continuous GPS stations in Yellowstone Caldera and near Norris Geyser Basin have recorded a small amount (less than 1 cm, or a fraction of an inch) of uplift.  This deformation occurs every summer and is caused by seasonal changes related to snowmelt and groundwater conditions throughout the region.  Since 2015, Yellowstone Caldera has been subsiding at a rate of about 3 cm (1.2 in) per year, interrupted each summer by a seasonal summertime pause or slight uplift.

An example of GPS data can be found at http://www.unavco.org/instrumentation/networks/status/pbo/data/NRWY (click on Static Plots / Cleaned)