Geothermal Features of Yellowstone
Geyser
Geothermal Features of Yellowstone
The geothermal areas of Yellowstone include several geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park as well as other geothermal features such as hot springs, fountain paint pots, and fumaroles.
Geysers
More than 75% of the world's geysers, including the world's largest are found at Yellowstone. A geyser is a hot spring which erupts regularly. These eruptions are caused by the buildup of hot water and steam trapped by constrictions in the "plumbing system" of a hot spring. When enough pressure builds up the geyser erupts, shooting a column of hot water and steam into the air. As the eruption begins, and water is released at the surface, the pressure of the hotter water much farther below the surface drops all at once. This releases steam and super-heated water into the sky. Old Faithful, the park's most famous geyser, is the most frequently erupting large geyser in Yellowstone National Park. It erupts about 66 to 80 minutes.
Hot Springs
Hot springs are pools of hot water that have come up through Earth's surface to form small ponds. Much of Yellowstone sits on a giant volcanic basin and hot magma still lies below the surface. This is where the source of heat for Yellowstone's hot springs and other geothermal features. Cold water from rain or snow melt, seep through pourous rock, and cracks in the ground to a depth of close to 10,000 feet. It drips and flows onto rocks heated by the magma below Yellowstone Park. The water is heated to temperatures around 400 Fahrenheit (well above the boiling point of water) but it remains in a liquid state due to the pressure of the rocks above. This superheated water is less dense than cooler water and more buoyant. As a result the superheated water can rise back towards the surface, dissolving silica and other minerals along the way. When the water finally reaches the surface it deposits some of the silica along the edges of the hot spring giving it a light colored edge.
Hot Spring Terraces
The terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs were created when hot water rose through ancient limestone deposits causing some of the limestone to dissolve. As the water reaches the surface and flows, the dissolved limestone that it carries, causes a much different effect than is seen at most hot spring. The limestone in the water solidifies forming beautiful terraces.
Mudpots
Mudpots are hot springs which do not have much water. The water in a mudpot has a lot of acid in it so it dissolves nearby rock into small pieces of clay. This clay then mixes with the hot water to create mud. Hot steam rising from below causes the mud to bubble and pop.
The geothermal areas of Yellowstone include several geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park as well as other geothermal features such as hot springs, fountain paint pots, and fumaroles.
Geysers
More than 75% of the world's geysers, including the world's largest are found at Yellowstone. A geyser is a hot spring which erupts regularly. These eruptions are caused by the buildup of hot water and steam trapped by constrictions in the "plumbing system" of a hot spring. When enough pressure builds up the geyser erupts, shooting a column of hot water and steam into the air. As the eruption begins, and water is released at the surface, the pressure of the hotter water much farther below the surface drops all at once. This releases steam and super-heated water into the sky. Old Faithful, the park's most famous geyser, is the most frequently erupting large geyser in Yellowstone National Park. It erupts about 66 to 80 minutes.
Hot Springs
Hot springs are pools of hot water that have come up through Earth's surface to form small ponds. Much of Yellowstone sits on a giant volcanic basin and hot magma still lies below the surface. This is where the source of heat for Yellowstone's hot springs and other geothermal features. Cold water from rain or snow melt, seep through pourous rock, and cracks in the ground to a depth of close to 10,000 feet. It drips and flows onto rocks heated by the magma below Yellowstone Park. The water is heated to temperatures around 400 Fahrenheit (well above the boiling point of water) but it remains in a liquid state due to the pressure of the rocks above. This superheated water is less dense than cooler water and more buoyant. As a result the superheated water can rise back towards the surface, dissolving silica and other minerals along the way. When the water finally reaches the surface it deposits some of the silica along the edges of the hot spring giving it a light colored edge.
Hot Spring Terraces
The terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs were created when hot water rose through ancient limestone deposits causing some of the limestone to dissolve. As the water reaches the surface and flows, the dissolved limestone that it carries, causes a much different effect than is seen at most hot spring. The limestone in the water solidifies forming beautiful terraces.
Mudpots
Mudpots are hot springs which do not have much water. The water in a mudpot has a lot of acid in it so it dissolves nearby rock into small pieces of clay. This clay then mixes with the hot water to create mud. Hot steam rising from below causes the mud to bubble and pop.