Hydrogeology of the Old Faithful area, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and its relevance to natural resources and infrastructure

Foley, Duncan K.; Fournier, Robert O.; Heasler, Henry P.; Hinckley, B.S.; Ingebritsen, Steven E.; Lowenstern, Jacob B.; Susong, David D.

doi:10.3133/ofr20141058

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…Results from these statistical analyses allow for a better understanding of the processes—both internal and external—that influence geyser eruptions over a range of timescales. Such understanding is, in turn, critical for managing tourism and infrastructure around Yellowstone National Park's geyser basins (Foley et al., 2014; Heasler et al., 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Interdependencies in Geyser Eruptions at the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

et al. 2022

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The Upper Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, USA) harbors the greatest concentration of geysers worldwide. Research suggests that individual geysers are not isolated but rather are hydraulically connected in the subsurface with other geysers and thermal springs. To quantify such connections, we combined techniques from machine learning, causal inference, and dynamical systems to characterize the collective eruptive behavior of a set of 10 geysers over 18 months (April 2007 – September 2008) focusing on geyser‐geyser interactions. Model predictions were up to 15 times more accurate when we sought to predict a geyser's eruption time series based on outflow channel temperatures from the network than based on its own time series alone, suggesting the existence of a complex interconnected subsurface groundwater system. On average, cone‐type geysers had larger impacts on other geysers than did fountain‐type geysers. Similarly, cone‐type geysers were on average more insulated from other geysers. However, substantial unexplained variation remained after considering the cone versus fountain dichotomy. Distance between geysers also affected interactions: nearby geysers had stronger effects on focal geysers than did geysers located farther away. Collectively, results support the hypothesis of geyser interdependence at timescales of 5 min–10 days. Our analyses highlight the existence of quantifiable geyser‐to‐geyser interactions that can be resolved through pairwise and system‐level analyses. These findings emphasize the subsurface interconnectedness of thermal features, provide information relevant to visitor experiences in Yellowstone National Park, and suggest strategies for exploring patterns of interdependence that may exist among other episodic geological phenomena.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Interdependencies in Geyser Eruptions at the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

et al. 2022

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“…Geophysical Research Letters frequent or completely cease, visitors will need to spend more time waiting for geyser eruptions, or possibly not see any at all. This might require readjustment of Yellowstone National Park's infrastructure (Foley et al, 2014).…”

Section: Implications For the Futurementioning

confidence: 99%

Yellowstone's Old Faithful Geyser Shut Down by a Severe Thirteenth Century Drought

Hurwitz

King²,

Pederson

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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To characterize eruption activity of the iconic Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park over past centuries, we obtained 41 new radiocarbon dates of mineralized wood preserved in the mound of silica that precipitated from erupted waters. Trees do not grow on active geyser mounds, implying that trees grew on the Old Faithful Geyser mound during a protracted period of eruption quiescence. Rooted stumps and root crowns located on higher parts of the mound are evidence that at the time of tree growth, the geyser mound closely resembled its current appearance. The range of calibrated radiocarbon dates (1233-1362 CE) is coincident with a series of severe multidecadal regional droughts toward the end of the Medieval Climate Anomaly, prior to the onset of the Little Ice Age. Climate models project increasingly severe droughts by mid-21st century, suggesting that geyser eruptions could become less frequent or completely cease. Plain Language Summary The rarity of natural geysers reflects the special conditions needed for their formation, including an abundant supply of water. Therefore, severe droughts of extended duration could have led to large variations in the frequency and intensity of geyser eruptions. To characterize potential changes in eruption activity of the iconic Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park over past centuries, we collected mineralized wood samples from its mound and used radiocarbon to date when these trees grew. Because trees do not live on active geyser mounds, we infer that the trees grew during a protracted period without eruptions. The dated fossil trees are from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries during a time with severe multidecadal droughts in the region. Because climate models forecast increasingly severe droughts by mid-21st century, geyser eruptions could become less frequent or completely cease.

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Hydrogeology of the Old Faithful area, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and its relevance to natural resources and infrastructure

Cited by 2 publications

References 12 publications

Quantifying Interdependencies in Geyser Eruptions at the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Quantifying Interdependencies in Geyser Eruptions at the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone's Old Faithful Geyser Shut Down by a Severe Thirteenth Century Drought

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