A team of scientists has discovered a newly formed volcanic vent in Yellowstone National Park, located on top of a giant supervolcano in Wyoming. The vent, emitting steam at a scorching 171°F (77°C), was found at the base of a lava flow and is believed to be linked to previous geothermal activity detected in the same region.
Yellowstone sits atop the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, which covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Geologists have been monitoring the park’s geothermal activity for years, noting that it remains one of the most geothermally active places on Earth, with over 10,000 hydrothermal features.
According to Yellowstone National Park geologists Jefferson Hungerford and Kiernan Folz-Donahue, the discovery was made during a recent drive through the park’s Mammoth Hot Springs area. The team noticed a billowing steam column through the trees and across a marshy expanse on August 5 last summer.
While the last known lava flow in the area occurred over 70,000 years ago, scientists confirm that the volcanic vent is new. Analysis suggests it may be connected to previous geothermal activity detected in March 2003.
The discovery raises questions about Yellowstone’s geological history and potential future eruptions. As one of the most geothermally active places on Earth, Yellowstone continues to fascinate scientists and visitors alike.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/scientists-discover-active-volcanic-vent-in-this-us-national-park-101742533060463.html