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At sunset a small plume of muddy water erupts from an otherwise placid, steaming pool surrounded by barren rocky ground
Eruption from Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, captured by a webcam on May 31, 2025
Eruption from Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, captured by a webcam on May 31, 2025
Eruption from Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park, captured by a webcam on May 31, 2025

This frame capture of a video from a webcam shows a small eruption emanating from Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, a subbasin of Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, on May 31, 2025.  This was the site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024.

This frame capture of a video from a webcam shows a small eruption emanating from Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, a subbasin of Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, on May 31, 2025.  This was the site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024.

Webcam view of a steaming and murky pool surrounded by barren ground with rocky cliffs in the distance.
Biscuit Basin webcam view
Biscuit Basin webcam view
Biscuit Basin webcam view

Image from the webcam installed at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park.  The view is of Black Diamond Pool, where a hydrothermal explosion occurred on July 23, 2024 (many of the rocks behind and to the right of the pool were deposited during that event).  The background cliff is the Summit Lake rhyolite lava flow, which is about 111,000 years old.&n

Image from the webcam installed at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park.  The view is of Black Diamond Pool, where a hydrothermal explosion occurred on July 23, 2024 (many of the rocks behind and to the right of the pool were deposited during that event).  The background cliff is the Summit Lake rhyolite lava flow, which is about 111,000 years old.&n

Webcam on a mast attached to a battery box on a boardwalk overlooking a murky and steaming pool
Biscuit Basin webcam temporary deployment
Biscuit Basin webcam temporary deployment
Biscuit Basin webcam temporary deployment

Temporary webcam deployed on the boardwalk in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park.  The pan/tilt/zoom camera provides a static view every 15 minutes and records video on site for later download as needed.  Black Diamond Pool, site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024, is in the background.  This work was completed under Yellowstone Nation

Temporary webcam deployed on the boardwalk in Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park.  The pan/tilt/zoom camera provides a static view every 15 minutes and records video on site for later download as needed.  Black Diamond Pool, site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024, is in the background.  This work was completed under Yellowstone Nation

Map of Yellowstone thermal areas with insets showing high-resolution satellite views of selected regions
Map of Yellowstone thermal areas with insets showing high-resolution satellite views of selected regions
Map of Yellowstone thermal areas with insets showing high-resolution satellite views of selected regions
Map of Yellowstone thermal areas with insets showing high-resolution satellite views of selected regions

Map of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. Inset commercial satellite images highlight thermal areas that are mentioned below: Sulphur Hills (©2022, Maxar, USG), Turbid Lake (©2022, Maxar, USG), and Lower Geyser Basin (©2015, Maxar, USG).  This work utilized data made available through the NASA Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program.  We acknowledge th

Map of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. Inset commercial satellite images highlight thermal areas that are mentioned below: Sulphur Hills (©2022, Maxar, USG), Turbid Lake (©2022, Maxar, USG), and Lower Geyser Basin (©2015, Maxar, USG).  This work utilized data made available through the NASA Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program.  We acknowledge th

Colored plots showing seismic reflections at the top of the Yellowstone magma chamber, and a cartoon explanation.
Seismic reflections from the top of the magma reservoir beneath Yellowstone Caldera
Seismic reflections from the top of the magma reservoir beneath Yellowstone Caldera
Seismic reflections from the top of the magma reservoir beneath Yellowstone Caldera

Seismic reflection data showing the top of the magma reservoir beneath Yellowstone Caldera along a cross section that runs from Canyon Village in the northwest (X) to near Lake Butte in the southeast (X`).  The top panel shows seismic P-wave (compressional wave) reflectivity, with evidence for the sharp reservoir top labeled.

Seismic reflection data showing the top of the magma reservoir beneath Yellowstone Caldera along a cross section that runs from Canyon Village in the northwest (X) to near Lake Butte in the southeast (X`).  The top panel shows seismic P-wave (compressional wave) reflectivity, with evidence for the sharp reservoir top labeled.

Graphic depicting melt embayment in quartz crystal, and how H2O compositions change within the embayment
Melt embayments and diffusion profiles to determine magma ascent rate
Melt embayments and diffusion profiles to determine magma ascent rate
Melt embayments and diffusion profiles to determine magma ascent rate

Quartz crystals (A) often contain melt embayments (tubular melt-filled pockets burrowed into the side of volcanic crystals) (B), which preserve volatiles (water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur) that have different concentrations in different parts of the embayment (C).

Quartz crystals (A) often contain melt embayments (tubular melt-filled pockets burrowed into the side of volcanic crystals) (B), which preserve volatiles (water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur) that have different concentrations in different parts of the embayment (C).

Videos

Yellowstone's Magma Chamber: A Hot Mess Yellowstone's Magma Chamber - A Hot Mess! (Yellowstone Monthly Update - June 2025)
Yellowstone's Magma Chamber - A Hot Mess! (Yellowstone Monthly Update - June 2025)
Yellowstone's Magma Chamber - A Hot Mess! (Yellowstone Monthly Update - June 2025)

There’s a lot of hot water in Yellowstone. What’s it heated by? The magma chamber beneath the surface, of course!

At sunset a small plume of muddy water erupts from an otherwise placid, steaming pool surrounded by barren rocky ground Black Diamond Pool (Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park) eruption on May 31, 2025
Black Diamond Pool (Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park) eruption on May 31, 2025
Black Diamond Pool (Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park) eruption on May 31, 2025

This video, recorded by a webcam, shows a small eruption from Black Diamond Pool in the Biscuit Basin subbasin of Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, at 8:39 p.m. MDT on May 31, 2025.  The pool was the site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024.

This video, recorded by a webcam, shows a small eruption from Black Diamond Pool in the Biscuit Basin subbasin of Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, at 8:39 p.m. MDT on May 31, 2025.  The pool was the site of a hydrothermal explosion on July 23, 2024.

Finding Lava Flows in Yellowstone Finding Lava Flows in Yellowstone (Yellowstone Monthly Update – May 2025)
Finding Lava Flows in Yellowstone (Yellowstone Monthly Update – May 2025)
Finding Lava Flows in Yellowstone (Yellowstone Monthly Update – May 2025)

If you want to find a lava flow in Yellowstone, look to the trees! The vegetation is telling us more than you might think.

YVO Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland reveals how vegetation can be used to map geology in this month's update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

If you want to find a lava flow in Yellowstone, look to the trees! The vegetation is telling us more than you might think.

YVO Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland reveals how vegetation can be used to map geology in this month's update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Hoodoo Hodunit?! Hoodoo Hodunit?! (Yellowstone Monthly Update – April 2025)
Hoodoo Hodunit?! (Yellowstone Monthly Update – April 2025)
Hoodoo Hodunit?! (Yellowstone Monthly Update – April 2025)

Well look at this mess! What’s going on? 

We’re just south of Mammoth Hot Springs at a place informally known as the Hoodoos. The official designation for the area is Silver Gate, named by an early Yellowstone National Park visitor because of the way the road wound between the closely spaced white and gray boulders. 

Well look at this mess! What’s going on? 

We’re just south of Mammoth Hot Springs at a place informally known as the Hoodoos. The official designation for the area is Silver Gate, named by an early Yellowstone National Park visitor because of the way the road wound between the closely spaced white and gray boulders. 

I'm melting. So are the streets at Yellowstone. "I'm Melting!" So are the streets at Yellowstone (Yellowstone Monthly Update - March 2025)
"I'm Melting!" So are the streets at Yellowstone (Yellowstone Monthly Update - March 2025)
"I'm Melting!" So are the streets at Yellowstone (Yellowstone Monthly Update - March 2025)

Is it true roads in Yellowstone National Park are melting? Whatever you might have heard, it's nothing new and it's not due to increased volcanic activity. Get up-to-speed in this month's update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (March 2025).

Is it true roads in Yellowstone National Park are melting? Whatever you might have heard, it's nothing new and it's not due to increased volcanic activity. Get up-to-speed in this month's update from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (March 2025).

Underwater smokers in Yellowstone? Underwater Smokers in Yellowstone? (Yellowstone Monthly Update - Feb 2025)
Underwater Smokers in Yellowstone? (Yellowstone Monthly Update - Feb 2025)
Underwater Smokers in Yellowstone? (Yellowstone Monthly Update - Feb 2025)

You've probably seen videos of black smokers on the ocean floor, where hydrothermal fluids vent from chimneys. In Yellowstone’s Monument Geyser Basin, you can see similar features right at the surface, and they likely formed in much the same way. Watch to learn more.

 

You've probably seen videos of black smokers on the ocean floor, where hydrothermal fluids vent from chimneys. In Yellowstone’s Monument Geyser Basin, you can see similar features right at the surface, and they likely formed in much the same way. Watch to learn more.

 

Audio

Sounds of Yellowstone, Steamboat Geyser
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Steamboat Geyser — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Steamboat Geyser — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Sounds of Yellowstone, Steamboat Geyser
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Thumbnail for Steamboat Geyser in the Sounds of Yellowstone podcast
Steamboat Geyser — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the gurgling and bubbly sounds of Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Steamboat Geyser is the world’s tallest active geyser. It showers watchers and drenches the walkway. Days, months, or years pass between the major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the gurgling and bubbly sounds of Steamboat Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. "Steamboat Geyser is the world’s tallest active geyser. It showers watchers and drenches the walkway. Days, months, or years pass between the major eruptions of Steamboat Geyser.

Beryl Spring, Sounds of Yellowstone
Beryl Spring artwork - Sounds of Yellowstone
Beryl Spring artwork - Sounds of Yellowstone
Beryl Spring — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Beryl Spring — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Beryl Spring, Sounds of Yellowstone
Beryl Spring artwork - Sounds of Yellowstone
Beryl Spring artwork - Sounds of Yellowstone
Beryl Spring — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Beryl Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Beryl Spring, in the Gibbon River valley south of Artist's Paintpots, is a complex plumbing system in Yellowstone National Park with a strongly and constantly boiling hot spring pool, and a powerful fumarole just behind the pool.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Beryl Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Beryl Spring, in the Gibbon River valley south of Artist's Paintpots, is a complex plumbing system in Yellowstone National Park with a strongly and constantly boiling hot spring pool, and a powerful fumarole just behind the pool.

Blue Mud Steam Vent, Sounds of Yellowstone
Blue Mud Steam Vent artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Blue Mud Steam Vent artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Blue Mud Steam Vent — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Blue Mud Steam Vent — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Blue Mud Steam Vent, Sounds of Yellowstone
Blue Mud Steam Vent artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Blue Mud Steam Vent artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Blue Mud Steam Vent — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Blue Mud Steam Vent in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Blue Mud Steam Vent is found within the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Blue Mud Steam Vent in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Blue Mud Steam Vent is found within the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

River and Thermal, Sounds of Yellowstone
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
River and Thermal, Sounds of Yellowstone
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Bridge Near Monument Geyser Basin Trailhead — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of a flowing river through Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This audio is from a river below the bridge near the Monument Geyser Trailhead in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of a flowing river through Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This audio is from a river below the bridge near the Monument Geyser Trailhead in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Cinnamon Spouter, Sounds of Yellowstone
Cinnamon Spouter, Sounds of Yellowstone artwork
Cinnamon Spouter, Sounds of Yellowstone artwork
Cinnamon Spouter — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Cinnamon Spouter — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Cinnamon Spouter, Sounds of Yellowstone
Cinnamon Spouter, Sounds of Yellowstone artwork
Cinnamon Spouter, Sounds of Yellowstone artwork
Cinnamon Spouter — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Cinnamon Spouter in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Cinnamon Spouter is located in the Black Sand Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Cinnamon Spouter in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Cinnamon Spouter is located in the Black Sand Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 

Congress Pool, Sounds of Yellowstone
Congress Pool artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Congress Pool artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Congress Pool — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Congress Pool — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)
Congress Pool, Sounds of Yellowstone
Congress Pool artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Congress Pool artwork for Sounds of Yellowstone
Congress Pool — Sounds of Yellowstone (ASMR, Sleep, Concentration)

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Congress Pool in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Congress Pool is a mud pool/mud pot located in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Need time to concentrate or relax? Then listen to the natural sounds of Congress Pool in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Congress Pool is a mud pool/mud pot located in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Webcams

Looking at hot spring with high cliffs in the background
Biscuit Basin webcam
Biscuit Basin webcam
Biscuit Basin webcam

The camera view is north-northwest from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk looking at Black Diamond Pool, which is in the foreground (the tilted viewing angle is due to the slope of the boardwalk).

The camera view is north-northwest from the Biscuit Basin boardwalk looking at Black Diamond Pool, which is in the foreground (the tilted viewing angle is due to the slope of the boardwalk).

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