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Images related to Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

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Cathodoluminescence images of zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region
Cathodoluminescence images of zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region
Cathodoluminescence images of zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region
Cathodoluminescence images of zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region

Cathodoluminescence images generated by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation ranging in energy from ultraviolet to near infrared with sectioned and polished zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region.

Cathodoluminescence images generated by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation ranging in energy from ultraviolet to near infrared with sectioned and polished zircon mineral grains from an Archean-age rock found in the Yellowstone region.

Cover of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 Annual Report
Cover of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 Annual Report
Cover of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 Annual Report
Cover of Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 Annual Report

Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report, which includes a summary of earthquake, deformation, and geyser activity, as well as research investigations and other information. The report is freely available online at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1494.

Front cover of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory 2021 annual report, which includes a summary of earthquake, deformation, and geyser activity, as well as research investigations and other information. The report is freely available online at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/cir1494.

Color-shaded bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake showing locations of sediment cores and major tectonic features
Color-shaded bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake
Color-shaded bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake
Color-shaded bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake

Color-shaded bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake showing locations of sediment cores and major tectonic features (faults, fractures, lineaments, caldera margins) and hydrothermal areas (vents, domes, hydrother­mal explosion craters).

Color-shaded bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake showing locations of sediment cores and major tectonic features (faults, fractures, lineaments, caldera margins) and hydrothermal areas (vents, domes, hydrother­mal explosion craters).

Map of the Continental Divide in North America
Map of the Continental Divide in North America
Map of the Continental Divide in North America
Map of the Continental Divide in North America

Map of North American showing the Continental Divide -- an invisible line that separates the major watersheds flowing to different oceans.

Map of North American showing the Continental Divide -- an invisible line that separates the major watersheds flowing to different oceans.

Map of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters
Map of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters
Map of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters
Map of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters

Map of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters. Pacific Creek flows southwest toward the Snake River, and Atlantic Creek flows northeast toward the Yellowstone River. The green line is the Continental Divide.

Map of Two Ocean Pass and the Parting of the Waters. Pacific Creek flows southwest toward the Snake River, and Atlantic Creek flows northeast toward the Yellowstone River. The green line is the Continental Divide.

Map of Yellowstone National Park showing geologic structures and thermal areas
Map of Yellowstone National Park showing geologic structures and thermal areas
Map of Yellowstone National Park showing geologic structures and thermal areas
Map of Yellowstone National Park showing geologic structures and thermal areas

Map of Yellowstone National Park showing geologic structures, including the caldera, inner ring fault, and resurgent domes, and and thermal areas (colored red).

Map of Yellowstone National Park showing geologic structures, including the caldera, inner ring fault, and resurgent domes, and and thermal areas (colored red).

Resistivity and magmatic susceptibility cross sections from Yellowstone thermal areas
Resistivity and magmatic susceptibility cross sections from Yellowstone thermal areas
Resistivity and magmatic susceptibility cross sections from Yellowstone thermal areas
Resistivity and magmatic susceptibility cross sections from Yellowstone thermal areas

Cross sections from one-dimensional electrical resistivity (top of each section) and three-dimensional magnetic susceptibility inverted models (bottom of each section) along profiles that span (a) Norris Geyser Basin, and (b) Upper Geyser Basin.  Geologic and geothermal features are from the Yellowstone geologic map. VE=vertical exaggeration.

Cross sections from one-dimensional electrical resistivity (top of each section) and three-dimensional magnetic susceptibility inverted models (bottom of each section) along profiles that span (a) Norris Geyser Basin, and (b) Upper Geyser Basin.  Geologic and geothermal features are from the Yellowstone geologic map. VE=vertical exaggeration.

Examples of some of the instrumentation commonly found in a geology experimental research lab
Examples of some of the instrumentation commonly found in a geology experimental research lab
Examples of some of the instrumentation commonly found in a geology experimental research lab
Examples of some of the instrumentation commonly found in a geology experimental research lab

Examples of some of the instrumentation commonly found in a geology experimental research lab.

Schematic cross section showing how rhyolite is generated at Yellowstone
Yellowstone rhyolite generation
Yellowstone rhyolite generation
Yellowstone rhyolite generation

Schematic cross section of the magmatic system underneath Yellowstone Caldera and illustrating the processes of rhyolite formation.

Schematic cross section of the magmatic system underneath Yellowstone Caldera and illustrating the processes of rhyolite formation.

Deformation at Campi Flegrei, Yellowstone, and Long Valley calderas over the past 100 years
Plot comparing caldera deformation
Plot comparing caldera deformation
Plot comparing caldera deformation

Vertical deformation measured at three caldera systems: Yellowstone, Wyoming (red), Long Valley, California (green), and Campi Flegrei, Italy (blue).  Triangles show data collected by leveling, and circles by GPS.  All three calderas have gone up and down over time, but the scale of change at Campi Flegrei dwarfs that at Long Valley and Yellowstone. 

Vertical deformation measured at three caldera systems: Yellowstone, Wyoming (red), Long Valley, California (green), and Campi Flegrei, Italy (blue).  Triangles show data collected by leveling, and circles by GPS.  All three calderas have gone up and down over time, but the scale of change at Campi Flegrei dwarfs that at Long Valley and Yellowstone. 

Spectrogram and waveform of a possible long-period earthquake in Yellowstone that occurred on August 26, 2021, near Norris Geyser Basin
Spectrogram and waveform of a possible long-period earthquake in Yellowstone
Spectrogram and waveform of a possible long-period earthquake in Yellowstone
Spectrogram and waveform of a possible long-period earthquake in Yellowstone

Spectrogram of a possible long-period (LP) earthquake in Yellowstone that occurred on August 26, 2021, near Norris Geyser Basin.  The top panel shows a 30-second seismogram recorded at seismic station YHH.  The bottom panel shows the spectrogram with energy concentrated in the 1–3 Hz range and lasting for ~15 seconds.

Spectrogram of a possible long-period (LP) earthquake in Yellowstone that occurred on August 26, 2021, near Norris Geyser Basin.  The top panel shows a 30-second seismogram recorded at seismic station YHH.  The bottom panel shows the spectrogram with energy concentrated in the 1–3 Hz range and lasting for ~15 seconds.

Spectrogram and waveform of a typical Volcano-Tectonic (VT) earthquake that occurred near Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Spectrogram and waveform of a volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquake in Yellowstone
Spectrogram and waveform of a volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquake in Yellowstone
Spectrogram and waveform of a volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquake in Yellowstone

Spectrogram of a typical volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquake that occurred near Norris Geyser Basin, in the same region similar depth as the possible long-period (LP) event that was recorded on August 26, 2021.  The top panel shows a 30-second seismogram recorded at seismic station YHH.  The bottom panel shows the spectrogram with energy ranging from 1-15 Hz

Spectrogram of a typical volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquake that occurred near Norris Geyser Basin, in the same region similar depth as the possible long-period (LP) event that was recorded on August 26, 2021.  The top panel shows a 30-second seismogram recorded at seismic station YHH.  The bottom panel shows the spectrogram with energy ranging from 1-15 Hz

Photo and lidar image of Silver Gate landslide, Yellowstone National Park
Photo and lidar image of Silver Gate landslide, Yellowstone National Park
Photo and lidar image of Silver Gate landslide, Yellowstone National Park
Photo and lidar image of Silver Gate landslide, Yellowstone National Park

Top image is a view of the Silver Gate landslide complex, near Mammoth Hot Springs, from Bunsen Peak. Bottom shows roughly the same view using lidar data, colored to show elevation highs and lows and shaded by slope. Landslide scarps, roads, trails, and Glen Creek (lower left), all obscured by trees in the photograph, are much more visible in the lidar.

Top image is a view of the Silver Gate landslide complex, near Mammoth Hot Springs, from Bunsen Peak. Bottom shows roughly the same view using lidar data, colored to show elevation highs and lows and shaded by slope. Landslide scarps, roads, trails, and Glen Creek (lower left), all obscured by trees in the photograph, are much more visible in the lidar.

Photo and lidar image of Highway 191 landslide, near Yellowstone National Park
Photo and lidar image of Highway 191 landslide, near Yellowstone National Park
Photo and lidar image of Highway 191 landslide, near Yellowstone National Park
Photo and lidar image of Highway 191 landslide, near Yellowstone National Park

Top shows aerial photo of a section of US Highway 191 north of West Yellowstone in Montana. Bottom shows lidar imagery that reveals the road traversing a landslide deposit. High elevations are brown and white, and green is lower elevation. Shading indicates steeper slopes.

Top shows aerial photo of a section of US Highway 191 north of West Yellowstone in Montana. Bottom shows lidar imagery that reveals the road traversing a landslide deposit. High elevations are brown and white, and green is lower elevation. Shading indicates steeper slopes.

Landscape change in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, detected by lidar
Landscape change in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, detected by lidar
Landscape change in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, detected by lidar
Landscape change in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, detected by lidar

3D renderings of elevation change between August 2007 and October 2020 along the Lamar River in the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park.  Red regions represent >1 m (3 ft) of elevation loss, yellow indicates no change, and blue represents >1 m (3 ft) of elevation gain.

3D renderings of elevation change between August 2007 and October 2020 along the Lamar River in the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park.  Red regions represent >1 m (3 ft) of elevation loss, yellow indicates no change, and blue represents >1 m (3 ft) of elevation gain.

Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image of Yellowstone from 28 January 2022
Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image of Yellowstone from 28 January 2022
Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image of Yellowstone from 28 January 2022
Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image of Yellowstone from 28 January 2022

Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image of Yellowstone from 28 January 2022.  Inset images are zoomed in on the area outlined by the white square.  Inset image (A) has the raw data values, which range from 9070 to 21284.  Inset image (B) shows the same image converted to spectral radiance, where values range from 3.13 to 7.21 W/m2/micron

Landsat 8 nighttime thermal infrared image of Yellowstone from 28 January 2022.  Inset images are zoomed in on the area outlined by the white square.  Inset image (A) has the raw data values, which range from 9070 to 21284.  Inset image (B) shows the same image converted to spectral radiance, where values range from 3.13 to 7.21 W/m2/micron

Map of seismicity in the Yellowstone region during 2021
Seismicity in the Yellowstone region during 2021
Seismicity in the Yellowstone region during 2021
Seismicity in the Yellowstone region during 2021

Map of seismicity (red circles) in the Yellowstone region during 2021. Gray lines are roads, black dashed line shows the caldera boundary, Yellowstone National Park is outlined by black dot-dashed line, and gray dashed lines denote state boundaries.

Map of seismicity (red circles) in the Yellowstone region during 2021. Gray lines are roads, black dashed line shows the caldera boundary, Yellowstone National Park is outlined by black dot-dashed line, and gray dashed lines denote state boundaries.

Siliceous sinter in the field and viewed via Scanning Electron Microscope
Siliceous sinter in the field and viewed via Scanning Electron Microscope
Siliceous sinter in the field and viewed via Scanning Electron Microscope
Siliceous sinter in the field and viewed via Scanning Electron Microscope

Left photo shows a loose piece of siliceous sinter that was precipitated around a photosynthetic microbial mat in the Lower Geyser Basin.  The microbial mat died when the outflow channel changed positions.

Left photo shows a loose piece of siliceous sinter that was precipitated around a photosynthetic microbial mat in the Lower Geyser Basin.  The microbial mat died when the outflow channel changed positions.

Castle Geyser features and Scanning Electron Microscope image of algal filament in a silica sheath
Castle Geyser features and Scanning Electron Microscope image of algal filament in a silica sheath
Castle Geyser features and Scanning Electron Microscope image of algal filament in a silica sheath
Castle Geyser features and Scanning Electron Microscope image of algal filament in a silica sheath

On the left is Castle Geyser during an eruption with a pool from nearby Tortoise Shell Spring showing photosynthetic pigments at the bottom. The middle image is of a small pool in the Geyser Hill Group in the Upper Geyser Basin with an outflow channel full of yellow, green, orange, red, and brown pigmented phototrophic microbial mats.

On the left is Castle Geyser during an eruption with a pool from nearby Tortoise Shell Spring showing photosynthetic pigments at the bottom. The middle image is of a small pool in the Geyser Hill Group in the Upper Geyser Basin with an outflow channel full of yellow, green, orange, red, and brown pigmented phototrophic microbial mats.

A 200-kilogram (440-pound) fragment of the Canyon Diablo meteorite that was found at Meteor Crater in Arizona
A 200-kilogram (440-pound) fragment of the Canyon Diablo meteorite that was found at Meteor Crater in Arizona
A 200-kilogram (440-pound) fragment of the Canyon Diablo meteorite that was found at Meteor Crater in Arizona
Boiling River near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Boiling River near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Boiling River near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Boiling River near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Boiling River near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.  Photo by R. Robinson.