A localized hydrothermal explosion occurred near Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin, located just north of Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, July 23, at about 10:19 am. One visitor happened to capture this event and it has since gone viral.
Hydrothermal explosions basically happen when water suddenly flashes to steam underground, and believe it or not, this phenomenon is quite common in Yellowstone. Porkchop Geyser experienced an explosion in 1989, while an explosion similar to that this week also occurred in Biscuit Basin on May 17, 2009.
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Photo credit: NPS.gov
Monitoring data show no changes in the Yellowstone region. Today’s explosion does not reflect activity within volcanic system, which remains at normal background levels of activity. Hydrothermal explosions like that of today are not a sign of impending volcanic eruptions, and they are not caused by magma rising towards the surface,” said the USGS.
