A significant hydrothermal explosion occurred at Yellowstone National Park’s Biscuit Basin. This Tuesday, the blast left damage in its wake, affecting a boardwalk and causing park visitors to evacuate quickly. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident, which took place around 10 a.m. at the Biscuit Basin thermal area, near the Black Diamond Pool, as per details provided by the U.S. Geological Survey.
For safety reasons, Biscuit Basin, including its boardwalks and parking lots, is currently closed while park geologists investigate the explosion. For those unfamiliar with this area, this popular tourist spot is located about two miles northwest of Old Faithful. Despite this event, volcanic activity in the Yellowstone region remains at normal levels.
The dramatic eruption was captured on video and shared on Facebook, showing visitors fleeing as a massive plume of steam followed. One Facebook user, Vlada March, who shared the footage, experienced the explosion firsthand with her family. Thankfully, they’re safe. As expressed in her post, they are “unbelievable and grateful to be alive.”
BREAKING: A hydrothermal explosion occurred in the Biscuit Basin area of Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/VpjL7njKT0
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) July 23, 2024
We greatly appreciate the video however, next time 200 degree water blows up in front of your face just put the phone down and run.
You might be curious about what caused this explosion and whether it signals an upcoming volcanic eruption. According to the USGS, hydrothermal explosions like this one don’t indicate potential volcanic eruptions, nor are they caused by magma rising to the surface.
But what exactly is a hydrothermal explosion? Lisa Morgan, an emeritus USGS research geologist, defines it as a sudden conversion of hot water into steam within a confined volcanic system space, leading to a rapid expansion and consequently, an eruption. Morgan describes these explosions as “one of the most important and least understood geologic hazards.”
(Heads Up!) Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park temporarily closed due to hydrothermal explosion. More info: https://t.co/tcDR8oRNSx pic.twitter.com/YP7CkwNrQR
— Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) July 23, 2024
Interestingly, Yellowstone is a global hotspot for these geologic hazards, with explosions occurring a few times each year. The area northeast of Yellowstone Lake contains the globe’s three largest-known hydrothermal explosion craters.
These explosions can occur anywhere there’s hydrothermal activity, for example, in New Zealand, Iceland, and Chile, besides Yellowstone. Despite the potential danger, these explosions are often classed as an “underappreciated geologic hazard,” according to Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge at the observatory.
While most explosions are small and thus go unnoticed, there have been instances of spectacular outcomes. For example, Ear Spring, near Old Faithful, exploded in 2018, throwing out not just rocks but also garbage dating back to the 1930s.
Hydrothermal explosions are an intriguing but still elusive phenomenon. Even as researchers endeavor to predict them, the question remains whether they can be accurately forecasted, as per Poland’s statement.
