Geology

Benchmarking Benchmarks In Yellowstone National Park

At the tops of many mountains and along numerous roads across the USA are small brass disks called benchmarks. These survey points are critical for mapping the landscape, determining boundaries, and documenting changes, and there are hundreds of them in Yellowstone National Park!

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 12th, 2024 2:30am

So, When Will The Next Eruption At Yellowstone Happen?

Geologists from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory are often asked to estimate how likely future eruptions are at Yellowstone, but it’s no walk in the national park.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 6th, 2024 2:30am

West Thumb Geyser Basin: Diverse and Exceptional Hot Springs, Mud Pots, Geysers, and Hydrothermal Explosions

Although not as famous as Old Faithful Geyser or Grand Prismatic Spring, the features of West Thumb Geyser Basin are some of the most varied and beautiful in Yellowstone National Park. From hot pools to offshore hot springs to sinter terraces to submarine explosion craters, West Thumb is an exciting natural laboratory!

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 29th, 2024 5:42am

Cosmic Clocks Help Keep Time In Yellowstone

Geologists can use cosmic rays from outer space to piece together the timing of past geologic events, like volcanic eruptions and glaciations. But how does this work? It turns out that rocks, like humans, can get a sunburn!

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 15th, 2024 2:30am

Webcam Upgrades Keep Sharp Eye On Hawai'i's Volcanoes

Photography has been a crucial part of volcano monitoring in Hawaii going back to the start of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 8th, 2024 2:30am

The July 23, 2024, Hydrothermal Explosion At Biscuit Basin In Yellowstone National Park

The hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin on July 23, 2024, was a spectacular event and emphatically demonstrates an under-appreciated hazard in the Yellowstone region.

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By NPT Staff - July 30th, 2024 4:40am

Unpacking The Legacy Of Water Chemistry Research In Yellowstone National Park, 1883–Present

The record of water chemistry data in Yellowstone predates the development of the pH (acidity) scale! These data are a testament to hundreds of researchers who have contributed their expertise over nearly 150 years.

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By NPT Staff - May 7th, 2024 3:00am

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles: A Beginner's Guide To Dating (Rocks)

Geologists study the rock record to understand how our world came to be and to try to determine what geologic events might occur in the future. The field of geochronology provides the means for geologists to know when these past events took place.

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By NPT Staff - April 9th, 2024 5:44am

Park History: National Parks Built Around Caves and Caverns

One of the most intriguing interpretive tours I’ve joined across the national park system was the “wild cave tour” offered at Mammoth Cave National Park. For six or more hours in sections of the cave off-limits to the more traditional tours we scooted through tight places on our bellies when not able to get by on hands and knees.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 27th, 2011 6:21pm

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Park History: How Volcanics Sculpted Parts of the National Park System

Talk volcanoes and national parks and folks usually think of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and perhaps Lassen Volcanic National Park. In truth, though, there are at least 13 units of the national park system that have a volcanic past in some form or fashion.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 27th, 2011 6:23pm

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