A new steam column has risen from Yellowstone National Park, marking a small but intriguing addition to the volcano’s dynamic landscape. According to geologists Jefferson Hungerford and Kiernan Folz-Donahue, the feature was discovered by a park scientist while driving south last summer.
The steaming hydrothermal vent is located at the base of an ancient lava flow and measures 171 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature. It is unclear whether this activity is new or a resurgence of features seen previously. The vent remains active but subdued due to water draining into the opening, with a possible rebirth expected when spring arrives.
Yellowstone’s volcanic risk remains low, with most recent eruptions being simple lava flows. However, if magma were to flow from deep beneath the surface in the future, decades or centuries of warning signs would be evident. The USGS notes that any eruption would have minimal impact on the surrounding area.
This new development is just one example of the ever-changing volcanic landscape, with many geological features emerging and dissipating over time.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/yellowstone-volcano-new-feature-vent