A surprise hydrothermal eruption shook Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, July 23rd, sending plumes of steam and dust skyward and prompting visitors to flee. The National Park Service (NPS) quickly closed off the area following the incident, which occurred at Biscuit Basin, a popular spot known for its colorful geysers and thermal pools, including the iconic Sapphire Pool. Videos captured by visitors and shared online showcase the dramatic event, capturing a towering 100-foot (30-meter) plume of debris as people along a boardwalk raced for safety.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported from the eruption, which took place at 10:19 a.m. Mountain Time (12:19 p.m. EDT). However, the nearby boardwalk sustained damage and will require repairs. Pictures taken after the eruption depict a scene of scattered debris and silt across the boards and guardrails. “What we saw today was spectacular and definitely hazardous,” Michael Poland, a research physicist and scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, told the Associated Press.
While the eruption was deemed “relatively small” compared to past events, Poland emphasized its significance as a “very good reminder of an underappreciated hazard.” Experts believe the eruption was likely triggered by a clog in the natural plumbing system underlying Yellowstone. This blockage may have led to a buildup of heat and pressure within a passageway beneath Biscuit Basin, ultimately forcing water to flash into steam and causing a sudden expansion of volume that resulted in an explosion.
“We saw more steam coming up and within seconds it became this huge thing,” Vlada March, a real estate agent from California visiting Yellowstone with her family, told the AP. “It just exploded and became like a black cloud that covered the sun.” The NPS assures visitors that the eruption does not signal increased volcanic activity beneath Yellowstone. “Today’s explosion does not reflect a change in the volcanic system, which remains at normal background levels of activity,” park officials stated.
This hydrothermal eruption, though smaller than past events, serves as a stark reminder of the powerful and unpredictable forces at play beneath Yellowstone’s surface. The park and USGS geologists continue to monitor the area and will reopen it to visitors once it is deemed safe.
