Yellowstone National Park is home to America’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful. However, beneath its surface lies a more concerning reality – a rumbling supervolcano that sits atop the country’s largest volcanic system.
A recent discovery of a newly opened volcanic vent in Roadside Springs has sparked scientific interest. The vent, measuring 77 degrees Celsius (171 Fahrenheit), was found to have a thin layer of gray siliceous clay, indicating it is relatively new. However, its presence does not necessarily mean increased hydrothermal activity.
The vent’s location near a large underground water reservoir, connected by a network of faults, suggests possible connections between the regions. Similar hydrothermal activity was observed on the other side of a nearby rhyolite lava flow in 2003 and still persists today.
Monitoring the new vent is essential to understand its behavior and potential connections with the larger Yellowstone system. The region’s unique geology, combined with its high seismic activity and extreme microorganisms, makes it an attractive hotspot for scientific research.
Visitors to Yellowstone can witness the park’s natural wonders firsthand, but must also be aware of the area’s geological instability. As scientists continue to monitor the supervolcano’s movements, they gain valuable insights into this complex system and its potential impacts on the environment.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-steaming-hot-volcanic-vent-has-opened-up-in-yellowstone