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Is this a potential sign of the fault shifting or whatever the correct terminology is? A warning shot before a massive earthquake? Or just a geyser-like phenome

Is this a potential sign of the fault shifting or whatever the correct terminology is? A warning shot before a massive earthquake? Or just a geyser-like phenomenon?

swatcoder 2y ago
From https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/science/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone#overview https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/science/hydrother... > These very large and violent hydrothermal explosions are independent of associated volcanism. None of the large hydrothermal events of the past 16,000 years has been followed by an eruption of magma. The deeper magma system appears to be unaffected even by spectacular steam explosions and crater excavations within the overlying hydrothermal system.
- pfdietz 2y ago
  Note, however, that much larger hydrothermal explosions have occurred than the one that just happened. There are some large craters in Yellowstone Lake from hydrothermal explosions. These would certainly kill people who were nearby if they happened again.
ofalkaed 2y ago
If it was a sign of something larger it probably would not be so isolated, all the geysers in the area would have gone off. I would guess this is either the formation of a new geyser or an old one which has a long duration between eruptions or just a one off.
DaoVeles 2y ago
Arm chair take here. Probably means nothing. On the scale of earthquakes and larger geology, this is insignificant. Look at the White Island eruption a few years back. If you are on the island it was an awful event. But in terms of eruption scale it was so small it barely registered.
docbarlow 2y ago
Seems to have happened before - this article has a small thumbnail of an explosion at the same site a few years ago: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone-national-park https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-exp...

Is this a potential sign of the fault shifting or whatever the correct terminology is? A warning shot before a massive earthquake? Or just a geyser-like phenomenon?

swatcoder 2y ago

From https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/science/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone#overview https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/science/hydrother... > These very large and violent hydrothermal explosions are independent of associated volcanism. None of the large hydrothermal events of the past 16,000 years has been followed by an eruption of magma. The deeper magma system appears to be unaffected even by spectacular steam explosions and crater excavations within the overlying hydrothermal system.

pfdietz 2y ago
Note, however, that much larger hydrothermal explosions have occurred than the one that just happened. There are some large craters in Yellowstone Lake from hydrothermal explosions. These would certainly kill people who were nearby if they happened again.

ofalkaed 2y ago

If it was a sign of something larger it probably would not be so isolated, all the geysers in the area would have gone off. I would guess this is either the formation of a new geyser or an old one which has a long duration between eruptions or just a one off.

DaoVeles 2y ago

Arm chair take here. Probably means nothing. On the scale of earthquakes and larger geology, this is insignificant. Look at the White Island eruption a few years back. If you are on the island it was an awful event. But in terms of eruption scale it was so small it barely registered.

docbarlow 2y ago

Seems to have happened before - this article has a small thumbnail of an explosion at the same site a few years ago: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone-national-park https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-exp...