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Caldera Chronicles

Caldera Chronicles is a weekly article written by U.S. Geological Survey Yellowstone Volcano Observatory scientists and colleagues.

Caldera Chronicles

Filter Total Items: 387
Yellowstone and Hawaiʻi—how similar are they?

Yellowstone and Hawaiʻi—how similar are they?

The US hosts two of the world’s most famous volcanic systems: Yellowstone and Hawaiʻi. These systems a well known for producing large volumes of magma...

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Observing non-earthquake signals on the Yellowstone Seismic Network

Observing non-earthquake signals on the Yellowstone Seismic Network

The Yellowstone Seismic Network is designed to record ground shaking due to earthquakes. But earthquakes aren’t the only things that rattle the ground...

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How geology and climate control vegetation composition and distribution in the Yellowstone Geoecosystem

How geology and climate control vegetation composition and distribution in the Yellowstone Geoecosystem

Want to know the geologic history of a specific area of Yellowstone?  Then pay attention to the vegetation!

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Yellowstone National Park: Where geology is on display nearly everywhere!

Yellowstone National Park: Where geology is on display nearly everywhere!

Yellowstone National Park is a popular destination for geology field trips. It’s easy to see why—the dynamic landscape contains a variety of...

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The science of the “X-ray vision” that reveals the magma beneath Yellowstone

The science of the “X-ray vision” that reveals the magma beneath Yellowstone

A number of studies have given us fascinating images showing Yellowstone’s magma reservoirs. But how are those images created?

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The lasting contributions of Yellowstone National Park naturalist George Marler

The lasting contributions of Yellowstone National Park naturalist George Marler

Ranger naturalist George D. Marler meticulously documented changes in hydrothermal activity in the geyser basins of Yellowstone National Park for more...

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An Electromagnetic View of How Magma is Stored beneath Yellowstone

An Electromagnetic View of How Magma is Stored beneath Yellowstone

How can lightning and solar storms be used to map magma beneath Yellowstone?  Through magnetotelluric imaging, which provides information about the...

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Looking back on geological activity in Yellowstone during 2024

Looking back on geological activity in Yellowstone during 2024

The year 2024 will rightly be remembered for the well-documented explosion at Biscuit Basin. But that wasn’t the only geological activity of note that...

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The explosive story of Excelsior Geyser

The explosive story of Excelsior Geyser

Long before the 2024 explosion of Black Diamond Pool brought renewed attention to hydrothermal hazards in Yellowstone National Park, there was...

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What did Yellowstone look like before it became Wonderland?

What did Yellowstone look like before it became Wonderland?

Yellowstone has been a site of persistent volcanic activity for over 2 million years. But what did the region look like before the volcanoes started...

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Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park’s Thermal Basins

Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park’s Thermal Basins

Yellowstone National Park is famous for its wildlife and geothermal activity. When we explore the intersection of these two natural grandeurs, we find...

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The case of the missing cinders

The case of the missing cinders

What happened to the cinders that used to float atop Cinder Pool in the One Hundred Spring Plain area of Norris Geyser Basin?

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What Have We Learned Since the 2020 Stanley, Idaho, Earthquake?

What Have We Learned Since the 2020 Stanley, Idaho, Earthquake?

The Stanley earthquake rattled Idaho in 2020.  Geologists have spent the past four years learning more about the fault that caused the quake—including...

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A tour of Norris Geyser Basin’s backcountry thermal areas

A tour of Norris Geyser Basin’s backcountry thermal areas

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest on-land geyser basin within Yellowstone National Park, with a wide diversity of thermal feature chemistry and...

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A brief history of YVO webcams

A brief history of YVO webcams

To mark the demise of the webcam that provided views of Yellowstone Lake since 2017, let’s take a look back the history of YVO webcams in Yellowstone...

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Benchmarking benchmarks

Benchmarking benchmarks

At the tops of many mountains and along numerous roads across the USA are small brass disks called benchmarks.  These survey points are critical for...

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So, when will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen?

So, when will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen?

Geologists from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory are often asked to estimate how likely future eruptions are at Yellowstone, but it’s no walk in...

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West Thumb Geyser Basin: Diverse and Exceptional Hot Springs, Mud Pots, Geysers, and Hydrothermal Explosions

West Thumb Geyser Basin: Diverse and Exceptional Hot Springs, Mud Pots, Geysers, and Hydrothermal Explosions

Although not as famous as Old Faithful Geyser or Grand Prismatic Spring, the features of West Thumb Geyser Basin are some of the most varied and...

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The receding waters of Nuphar Lake, near Norris Geyser Basin

The receding waters of Nuphar Lake, near Norris Geyser Basin

At the beginning of 2024, the water level at Nuphar Lake, near Norris Geyser Basin was on the rise. By the end of that summer, however, the water has...

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Cosmic clocks help to keep time in Yellowstone

Cosmic clocks help to keep time in Yellowstone

Geologists can use cosmic rays from outer space to piece together the timing of past geologic events, like volcanic eruptions and glaciations. But how...

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Forthcoming satellite data will provide a better picture of Yellowstone

Forthcoming satellite data will provide a better picture of Yellowstone

A new satellite is set to launch in a few months and could provide new views of how the ground moves at Yellowstone. But the data will need to be...

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