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A pool at Yellowstone is a thumping thermometer

The study of Doublet Pool reveals that the interval between episodes of thumping reflects the amount of energy heating the pool, while also indicating heat loss through the surface. The researchers found that wind speed over the pools was correlated with silence intervals, suggesting that blowing wind removes heat energy from the water.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeObservational study·DateMar 8, 2023

Experience Yellowstone’s geysers ‘in concert’

Scientists at Anglia Ruskin University have created a new way to experience Yellowstone's geysers through classical music. By sonifying the physical characteristics of the geothermal landscape, they've turned vibrations into melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. The result is an evolving musical representation of the earth, water, and steam.

Reawakened geyser does not foretell Yellowstone volcanic eruptions, study shows

A new study by geoscientists finds that the reactivation of Steamboat Geyser does not foretell any upcoming volcanic eruptions in Yellowstone National Park. The researchers discovered a relationship between the column height of the geyser and the depth of its reservoir, with deeper reservoirs resulting in higher eruption jets.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2021

Old Faithful's geological heart revealed

Researchers used dense seismograph network to map near-surface geology around Old Faithful, discovering a reservoir of heated water that fuels the geyser. The study also reveals how ground shaking behaves between eruptions and finds an underground feature affecting seismic waves in a specific area.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 5, 2017

Tiny fossils tell a long(ish) story

Researchers have found that the flux of organic matter to the seafloor was reduced for a shorter time than previously thought, with evidence suggesting that some food must have reached the seabed despite mass extinctions. The study used foraminiferal isotopes from a deep-sea core in the South Atlantic to investigate this paradox.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateMar 8, 2016

Geysers have loops in their plumbing

A recent study by UC Berkeley professor Michael Manga found that geysers erupt periodically due to underground loops and side-chambers that trap steam bubbles. The study suggests that these underground features heat the water column above, eventually leading to sudden boiling and pressure release.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalJournal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research·DateFeb 24, 2015

Lithosphere interprets earth

Recent studies published in Lithosphere explore the tectonic history of ancient mountain chains, including the Central Iberian Massif, Arctic Alaska, and the Wet Mountains of Colorado. These findings shed light on the deformation mechanisms and crustal-scale magmatism across these regions.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalLithosphere·DateSep 20, 2013

AGU journal highlights -- July 16, 2013

Research suggests that freshwater ecosystems were more resilient than oceans during the asteroid impact due to annual freeze-thaw cycles, groundwater seeps, and dormant stages of many organisms. This study also explores the bubbling of methane from thermokarst lakes, an important factor in the carbon cycle and global climate change.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 16, 2013

Quake in Alaska changed Yellowstone geysers

Scientists found prolonged changes in hydrothermal activity after a magnitude-7.9 Denali fault earthquake in Alaska triggered more than 1,000 small earthquakes in Yellowstone within a week. Some geysers erupted more frequently while others less often due to changes in water pressure and underground conduits.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeology·DateMay 27, 2004