A team of researchers from Rice University, University of New Mexico, University of Utah, and the University of Texas at Dallas has made a groundbreaking discovery about Yellowstone National Park’s volcanic system. Using innovative controlled-source seismic imaging and advanced computer models, they found a sharp, volatile-rich cap just 3.8 kilometers beneath the park’s surface.
This cap, composed of magma, acts as a lid, trapping pressure and heat below it. The research suggests that the Yellowstone magma reservoir is actively releasing gas while remaining in a stable state. However, unlike previous assumptions, this finding indicates that the system has not shut down – it’s been dynamic for millions of years.
The team used a 53,000-pound vibroseis truck to generate tiny earthquakes and record seismic waves at the surface. The data revealed a sharp boundary at about 3.8 km depth, which likely represents a buildup of partially molten rock interspersed with gas bubbles. Modeling various rock, melt, and volatile combinations, they determined that a mixture of silicate melt and supercritical water bubbles creates a volatile-rich cap with 14% porosity.
Unlike previous eruptions, the current conditions at Yellowstone appear to be releasing gases efficiently through cracks and channels between mineral crystals. This “steady breathing” mechanism reduces the risk of imminent eruption. The research team’s findings provide new insight into magma movement within Earth’s crust and have potential applications for volcano monitoring, carbon storage, energy exploration, and hazard assessment.
The study was led by Chenglong Duan and Brandon Schmandt from Rice University, with collaboration from other institutions and support from the National Science Foundation.
Source: https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/inside-yellowstones-fiery-heart-rice-researchers-map-volatile-rich-cap-offering-clues