Hydrothermal activity in the southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field
May 20, 2020
In the past two decades, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service have studied hydrothermal activity across the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field (YPVF) to improve the understanding of the magmatic-hydrothermal system and to provide a baseline for detecting future anomalous activity. In 2017 and 2018 we sampled water and gas over a large area in the southwest YPVF and used Landsat 8 thermal infrared data to estimate radiative heat flow. Most of the thermal activity in this region is in close proximity to the Yellowstone Caldera boundary. Springs and fumaroles discharge from a variety of lithologies including some of the youngest rhyolites in the YPVF. Gas compositions and helium isotope ratios of most samples resemble those in other parts of the YPVF. The waters have meteoric origins and tritium was detected in several samples. Thermal waters from some areas have compositions that plot along a line connecting thermal and non-thermal water endmember compositions. The thermal water endmember equilibrated at 160-170 °C, lower than waters in Yellowstone’s geyser basins. Heat discharged by springs and fumaroles originates from within the Yellowstone Caldera and is transported laterally by advection, mainly along the base of rhyolite flows that cover the inferred caldera boundaries.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2020 |
---|---|
Title | Hydrothermal activity in the southwest Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field |
DOI | 10.1029/2019GC008848 |
Authors | Shaul Hurwitz, R. Blaine McCleskey, Deborah Bergfeld, Sara Peek, David Susong, David A. Roth, Jefferson Hungerford, Erin B White, Lauren Harrison, Behnaz Hosseini, R. Greg Vaughan, Andrew G. Hunt, James B. Paces |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems |
Index ID | 70211291 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Colorado Water Science Center; Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center; Volcano Science Center; Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |
Related
Water chemistry data for selected hot springs and rivers in Southwest Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Water analyses are reported for 66 samples collected from numerous thermal and non-thermal (rivers and streams) features in the southwestern areas of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 2009, 2017, and 2018. Water samples were collected from sources near Boundary Creek, Bechler River, Falls River, Mountain Ash Creek, Upper Snake River, Spirea Creek, and Lewis Lake. These water samples...
Richard Gregory Vaughan, PhD
Remote Sensing Lead
Remote Sensing Lead
Research Geologist
Research Geologist
Email
Phone
James Paces
Scientist Emeritus
Scientist Emeritus
Email
Phone
Related
Water chemistry data for selected hot springs and rivers in Southwest Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Water analyses are reported for 66 samples collected from numerous thermal and non-thermal (rivers and streams) features in the southwestern areas of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 2009, 2017, and 2018. Water samples were collected from sources near Boundary Creek, Bechler River, Falls River, Mountain Ash Creek, Upper Snake River, Spirea Creek, and Lewis Lake. These water samples...
Richard Gregory Vaughan, PhD
Remote Sensing Lead
Remote Sensing Lead
Research Geologist
Research Geologist
Email
Phone
James Paces
Scientist Emeritus
Scientist Emeritus
Email
Phone