Manashimaya
A hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park caused significant damage on Tuesday morning, damaging a boardwalk and sending debris several stories into the air in the Biscuit Basin area, northwest of Old Faithful. According to Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, this explosion, though classified as “small,” had a noticeable impact on the park’s infrastructure.
The explosion occurred around 10 a.m., approximately 2.1 miles northwest of Old Faithful, likely originating from the Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, despite several people being on the boardwalk near the explosion site. Videos posted online by witnesses showed debris scattered across the area and significant damage to the boardwalk. As a safety precaution, Biscuit Basin’s parking lot and boardwalks have been temporarily closed while Yellowstone National Park geologists investigate the incident.
Michael Poland emphasised that the hydrothermal explosion does not indicate unusual volcanic activity within the Yellowstone region. “Monitoring data show no changes in the Yellowstone region. Today’s explosion does not reflect activity within the volcanic system, which remains at normal background levels of activity,” Poland stated. He further explained that hydrothermal explosions are relatively common in Yellowstone National Park and are not caused by magma rising towards the surface.
Hydrothermal explosions occur when water quickly changes to steam underground, and they can send boiling water, steam, mud, and rocks into the air. These explosions can reach impressive heights of up to 1.2 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Although large hydrothermal explosions are rare, smaller events like the recent one in the Biscuit Basin happen more frequently. Previous explosions in Biscuit Basin include an event in May 2009 and a smaller explosion in Norris Geyser Basin on April 15. Notably, the Porkchop Geyser in Norris Geyser Basin exploded in 1989.
The U.S. Geological Survey noted in a 2018 report that large hydrothermal explosions occur on average every 700 years. The report identified at least 25 craters in Yellowstone National Park that are at least 328 feet wide. While these large explosions are rare on a human timescale, the potential for future events remains significant.
“Although large hydrothermal explosions are rare events on a human time scale, the potential for additional future events of the sort in Yellowstone National Park is not insignificant,” the report states. Based on past occurrences over the last 16,000 years, an explosion large enough to create a 328-foot-wide crater might be expected every few hundred years.
The National Park Service has documented that Black Diamond Pool has a history of eruptive activity, especially following seismic events. In July 2006, an earthquake caused the pool to erupt with black,murky water and led to several explosive eruptions in the following days. However, these eruptions have been infrequent since then, with the pool’s average temperature recorded at 148.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
In conclusion, Yellowstone National Park hit by a hydrothermal explosion causing significant damage has drawn attention to the park’s dynamic geothermal features. While the recent explosion was a small one, it serves as a reminder of the powerful natural forces at work in this iconic national park. Visitors are advised to heed safety warnings and respect temporary closures as geologists continue their investigations.
