Water Temperature Data for Opalescent Spring, Yellowstone National Park
Hot spring located at the northwest end of Porcelain Terrace.
The water is neutral-to-alkaline, and rich in Cl. Water rising into the pool is boiling (~92°C). The temperature is measured at ~10 cm depth, toward the edge of the pool. The water level in the pool appears to have remained stable in recent years. The site is off-limits to the public and is surrounded by unstable thermal ground.
![Opalescent Geyser, Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park....](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/vhp_img33.jpg?itok=0wh3uNy7)
Water temperature is measured beneath the pool surface. Temperature increases may reflect increased inflow of thermalwater. Sudden decreases in temperature could be a result of a drop in water level beneath that of the temperature probe. This will usually result in large diurnal (24-hour) variations as the probe measures air temperature instead of water temperatures. Smaller diurnal variations are normal in pools.
Daily Temperature Graph
![](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/yellowstone/opalescent-24h.png)
Weekly Temperature Graph
![](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/yellowstone/opalescent-7d.png)
Monthly Temperature Graph
![](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/yellowstone/opalescent-1m.png)
Additional Information
Hot spring located at the northwest end of Porcelain Terrace.
The water is neutral-to-alkaline, and rich in Cl. Water rising into the pool is boiling (~92°C). The temperature is measured at ~10 cm depth, toward the edge of the pool. The water level in the pool appears to have remained stable in recent years. The site is off-limits to the public and is surrounded by unstable thermal ground.
![Opalescent Geyser, Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park....](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/vhp_img33.jpg?itok=0wh3uNy7)
Water temperature is measured beneath the pool surface. Temperature increases may reflect increased inflow of thermalwater. Sudden decreases in temperature could be a result of a drop in water level beneath that of the temperature probe. This will usually result in large diurnal (24-hour) variations as the probe measures air temperature instead of water temperatures. Smaller diurnal variations are normal in pools.
Daily Temperature Graph
![](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/yellowstone/opalescent-24h.png)
Weekly Temperature Graph
![](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/yellowstone/opalescent-7d.png)
Monthly Temperature Graph
![](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/yellowstone/opalescent-1m.png)