Biscuit Basin Explosion
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- What just happened at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park? Kaboom! Visitors witnessed a towering plume of steam, rock and mud rise several hundred feet into the air. The brief July 23 event was a classic example of a hydrothermal explosion, not a volcanic eruption. And with all the hot water circulating in the subsurface of this active volcano, it’s no surprise that hydrothermal explosions are Yellowstone’s most common geologic hazard.
Yellowstone's hydrothermal (hot water) system is powered by a cooling magma reservoir several miles beneath the surface. Even though the presence of hot water near the surface is partially due to that magma, this explosion was not triggered by changes in the magmatic system, like magma interacting with groundwater to cause it to convert to steam.
Rather, the event was rooted in the very shallow hydrothermal system, where transitions between liquid water and steam are common and can occur when silica (dissolved in the water) clogs hot water conduits, causing changes in pressure that may lead to explosions.
Mike Poland, scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, talks about this previously underappreciated hazard and how it recently gained a little more respect
USGS video: www.usgs.gov/m...
"Whew! That was a narrow escape. Now let's go over and pet those fluffy cows."
Those fluffy cows are scary when they're walking right next to your car.
😂
Gotta love the Turons!
Yellowstone is what it was like for our hunter-gatherer ancestors on the day-to-day. How did we even survive prehistoric times??
I wish this was not so incredibly accurate.
Every single person in the proximity of that event was astonishingly fortunate, and many of them were children. That entire situation could have turned out horrifyingly worse.
Thanks evil clown for your sympathetic thoughts.
Very very true. The original video I saw from the aunt of two kids showed a big chunk taken out of a bench near the explosion where a rock crashed through. Imagine what it could have done to a human.
They were incredibly lucky. The water in those pools is boiling hot, apparently. Imagine getting a faceful of that, no thanks. Exciting to watch from a safe distance, however! I love the dangerous wildness of Yellowstone...makes it even more beautiful to me.
@@denverdubois5835Boiling hot when nothing is happening - this was caused by a steam explosion, so potentially much hotter than boiling!
Some lottery of life winners right there.
Glad no one was hurt! Yellowstone is an amazing place!
agreed
But when is going to boom?
The dynamics of a living planet. This event was tiny in scale, a reminder that Earth events of varying scales happen and we can't do anything about them.
Stay away from geodynamically active regions such as seashores, hillsides, floodplains, and volcanically active areas. People are unaware of the risks and build homes, etc.
@@user-cr5yy4te3i Yes stay at home inside where its safe.
@@shaynejenkins446No
@@user-cr5yy4te3i So, pretty much everywhere.
@@shaynejenkins446 That is not the point....The problem is that people build in unstable areas like ocean beaches, and then get wiped out during a catastrophe. If they have insurance, good for them. But then insurance rates rise for everyone. If they have no insurance then they take a huge loss which could have been prevented if they understood natural hazards.
Given the looks of that boardwalk, I think we were lucky that no one was hurt.
Yes, seriously it's almost miraculous that no one was hurt or at least got some first degree burns from Steam or the water.
Falling rocks are one thing, but i would be more scared of the horrifying burns people would get from being drenched in boiling hot steam...
Rocks the size of pumpkins.
I'm glad this video exists. Short, concise, and intelligent explanations of current events help to keep the peace.
As soon as I heard about this I was looking forward to your report! Great work, as usual. Never a dull moment at Yellowstone!
My thoughts exactly.
Also, I am glad I don't have to wait for the monthly report to see this.
Same! These updates are a great supplement to the monthly report, and more valuable than other so-called "reporting" on this!
Thanks for all the great explanations and data! You're doing a great job!
USGS, I saw this same image with flames in it on another YT site. I ignored its end-of-the-world headline title and told myself to wait for the objective truth. And here it is. From actual geologists. Can you sue people who steal your stuff, efface it with a lie, and seek gain for it? I know you probably can’t but I wish you could. Thanks for the truth. Blessings on your good work for our country.
yeah he explains the dynamic of pressurizing the inner layers of the earth but he doesn't explain how that water went into steam so fast that it caused the explosion, it means most likely that magma reached an aquifer
@@eliezerdaniel If magma reached an aquifer, there would be a ton of seismicity, ground deformation, gas emissions, etc. Magma could not get that shallow without causing changes that would be obvious and all over the place. But water can go to steam with just changes in pressure. Superheated water -- above boiling at atmospheric pressure -- can exist when the system is under pressure. Suddenly release that pressure -- for example, a new conduit opens up -- and the superheated water instantly converts to steam. That's what happened here. A similar (although smaller and unwitnessed) event occurred in Norris Geyser Basin on April 15 of this year.
@@usgs I would look into the seismic reports because increased seismic activity even if low intensity can cause new conduits to open... also, into the CO2 and SO2 levels in the water from that particular and specific area, since magma releases those gases which could got into the aquifer, which could led to overpressurization.
I think we witnessed ground deformation so there is that.
also I think the 1989 explosion at Norris Geyser Basin happened because of magma.
but I am just an amateur I do recognize that.
@@eliezerdaniel Do some more research. You don't got it yet.
@alainaaugust1932
I spent a good portion of my day yesterday refuting all of the hysterical conspiracy theorist claims that this was proof that Yellowstone was about to blow. I took great pains to explain the difference between volcanic activity and hydrothermal activity. I doubt that I convinced any of those people because they wouldn't be conspiracy theorists in the first place if they thought scientifically and rationally. By the time I was 14 I understood the difference between volcanic activity and hydrothermal events mostly because I am scientific by Nature and because I had a sister who lived near Yellowstone and I did a lot of studying of information available in the visitor centers there some 50 years ago. I'm sure as I scroll down there will be the usual conspiracy theorists. Yesterday one of them said they should fire the geologist that said it was not volcanic activity, because the conspiracy theorist "knew better". I'm thinking of writing a grant proposal to study why there are so many Dunning Kruger 'thinkers' alive at this point in time.
You're a good speaker and reporter. Thanks for the great report!
Thanks for the facts and the alternate video!
Mike Poland is awesome. Been watching him for years in PBS/Horizon documentaries. A very good communicator. Glad the USGS had him do this to counter some of this crazy misinformation about what happened here.
Mike Poland is the Scientist in Charge of the USGS Yellowstone Volcanic Observatory, so he is the expected person to communicate the information about this event and others in Yellowstone.
Thanks. I was just there at the end of June and early July and the Biscuit Basin area was very active and beautiful.
As crazy as Yellowstone is I will go there one day I think I just have to see it for myself !! This USGS channel is the best they provide so much information and great videos thanks so much !!!!
It's an incredible park. You should definitely go and I hope you will have a grand time.
you should go. it is HIGHLY touristed, but well worth the experience. (and, as always, keep a reasonable distance from all wildlife.
Everyone should experience Yellowstone. Talk about nostalgia
I saw it first when I was 5 years old, way back in 1953, a kid from a little farm in Western Kansas who had never even seen rocks, let alone geysers and mountains and huge lakes and brilliantly colored pools of hot water . It left an impression . I went several more times as one of my sisters married and moved near there a decade later. Last there in 1999. It's an amazing place to say the least.
Many parks you can visit depending on what you're looking for. Just probably do some research because the tourist season can really pack some of them. And just driving in and out of some highways can take several hours.
I was in Iceland June 2024 at the geyser park. People are kept at a much safer distance from the erupting geysers.
Very cool event! I was there two years ago and fished in the Firehole River. Amazing to see the steam rising from Biscuit Basin while trout fishing in a cold stream!
Safety glasses and my hard hat on each time I visit Yellowstone National Park.
LOL I get safety, but you absolutely look like a doofus wearing those on the trail in Yellowstone 😂😂😂
There are two consideration of how the explosion occurred. First there is a super critical boiling point of water. 705F at 3200 psi. There is liquid water as high as 704F AND under a pressure of 3200psi, however,, cross the line at 705 and liquid water cannot be contained, no matter what, It turns into super heated steam, and expands catastrophically. It IS possible this is the source of the explosion. It is likely that this is what created the 1.5 mile crater in Yellowstone Lake. The second possible is like a shaken soda, or champagne,, once the pressure finds an outlet, the water at less than the super critical threshold, simply turns to steam. This is what powers the geysers.
TDS Bumping!
We were there days afterward and were wondering why this area was closed off. Pretty amazing. Also amazing that no one was hurt, especially since there were a bunch of people there- you can see them running away in those clips.
Thanks for debunking all the conspiracy theories with this video.
I spent half a day yesterday looking at the lunacy of the conspiracy theories on UA-cam videos. We are a nation of ignorant chicken suckers. sites
What happens should Jellystone, Yosemite, new Madrid and the PNW subduction earthquake all happen at once? Not likely, but,it is something to think about.!!
Yellowstone is in no danger of erupting. In fact, volcanic activity at Yellowstone has been steadily decreasing ever since we began monitoring it. It may even be going extinct.
For a government agency, that was a surprisingly, clear, concise, and informative video. It was just the perfect length it needed to be. Didn't drag out the information and gave enough insight in a short amount of time. Good work. Now wouldn't it be nice if the Secret Service or the FBI could follow the USGS lead and provide us with clear, concise reporting of events that relate to national security.
Ridiculous to say geothermal events like this or a geyser aren't volcanic. It's literally a Hydrovolcanic Eruption lol either it's somebody's attempt to reduce potential alarm or just ignorant public relations. Yes volcanic and seismic activity around the world is increasing. If the thermal energy from volcanic activity didn't heat the water, then what did? Bad info video.
That's because this government agency actually employs scientists. I'm sure it has its share of bureaucrats, but I have a feeling they're allergic to UA-cam.
@@michaelbballard It's not a hydrovolcanic eruption. The water was already hot, and built up in a confined area. Physics did the rest. And activity is not increasing around the planet. It might seem that way to to uneven media attention and our biased human perceptions, but the planet is doing what it always has.
Christ. You're not happy unless you're assuming shits all a conspiracy....are you?
I honestly believe society is changing in the way it's using social media. Honest and stable people and organisations are going to learn how to cope and ignore conspiracies and misinformation. At the moment it all seems out of control, but that's because it's still a relatively new phenomenon. We'll adapt and will naturally understand quality information like this video from the voodoo that seems to be taking over.
Unfortunately I fear that the park lawyers will overreact and keep the public a mile away from anything with any chance of popping and we won't be able to see anything anymore ☹
Thank you for the concise video 👍
Very well done and explained
Glad no one was seriously hurt. Hopefully they listen to you Mike, and stop fear mongering about it.
I was there when Pork Chop geyser exploded in 1989. Lots of flying rock.
Would love to hear your account of that! We wrote a "Caldera Chronicles" article about that event at www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/day-porkchop-geyser-exploded.
@usgs September is a fantastic time to visit the park. There are only a few visitors. Fly fishing is great. The elk are in the park and easy to see. There were very few people in that basin when Pork Chop was explosive. I was close by and it was noisy. Lots of rocks flying.
As a geologist, former schoolteacher and E/PO enthusiast, I say well done! Interesting, personable and succent.
So many people got hung up on this not being related to volcanic activity for some reason... It's like it's not even common knowledge anymore that you need more than just a single event like this before you should start to fear an eruption.
I usually go with the rule of thumb that if normal people are scared, you can be alert, but not alarmed. If experts in the field are scared, THEN you should start being scared as well as alert!
As a former geologist who once did a summer with the USGS in Menlo Park, I appreciate your updates to get a bit more information scientifically speaking than one can often get with the general media.
Thank you very much, Mike. Wow. What a mess!
I didn’t know usgs had a UA-cam channel. This is awesome
How cool for the people there. That one will be one to remember.
Mike, super excited to see your video and say "hey I remember that guy" great to see you're doing well.
Thank you for the video!
❤ Greetings from SW Oregon 🔥! Just found your channel! I love learning about rocks, great and wee. I feel a binge session in my immediate future!
Do it - He's a great speaker and the topics are always fascinating!
@USGS Could you - after things calm down - do a follow up showing the rocks and minerals involved perhaps ecen with microslides? I feel that this is a wonderfull opportunity to show the play between lithology and the hydrothermal activity.
Definitely. We'll probably do a series of Caldera Chronicles articles on this -- that's our weekly article about some aspect of Yellowstone geology (you can see past articles and sign up to get them via email at www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/caldera-chronicles). The one that comes out Monday morning will contain details about the initial examination of the deposit. There are lots of past articles on hydrothermal explosions in general (for example, www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone-national-park).
Ooo, yes please!
@@usgs sounds like a good series.
Already been done thousands of times.
Good to see you, Mike! Thanks for the timely update.
Thanks for the explanation! Unfortunately, the news were busy marveling at the spectacle itself instead of explaining why it happened.
Very interesting, thank you so much for keeping us posted on this very interesting area. !
Google must have gotten their algorithms working because it finally led me to something fascinating. I am happy to hear everyone was safe. Fun and informational video!
These events are extremely interesting. The area is very dynamic. Thanks for the update and the information you have gathered since the event.
Thank you so much for a sensible, concise report. I'm glad there aren't more people freaking out about the super volcano erupting.
Ok that was so cool. Glad I wasn't there. Weirdly I wanted to see something like this since high school in the 80ties. Earth science is so frigging cool
very useful and thorough explanation. the more we understand about nature the better. thanks for posting this.
Was waiting for this video. Thank you for the great information.
COOL CHANNEL! I'm glad nobody was hurt. It's easy to get a false sense of security if you stay on the boardwalks. I'm also glad that Old Faithful didn't get totally messed up from the giant earthquake. It's so amazing that something like that exists and that everyone can see at least one geyser erupt when they visit. That's really special.
Its very lucky that no one got hurt by this thing.
IIRC, the "Biscuits" used to be rock formations around one of the hot pools, but the Biscuits disappeared when the hot spring blew up...
Excellent historical note! We have more on the history of the "biscuits" in one of our weekly Caldera Chronicles articles: www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/yellowstones-famous-biscuits.
Thank you so much for sharing these videos with us! I find them fascinating! Brightest Blessings! ☺️✌️💖🦋🙏
Let this be a good lesson for all those that like to leave the safety of the walkway and get a closer look.
The walkway didn't fare so well this time. Natural hazards abound in Yellowstone, yet it remains one of the most beautiful and awe inspiring places on Earth.
They were on the walkway!
Nice poop post.
@@lazygardens yes. That's why no one was hurt.
USGS! My dream job. I am a land surveyor.
Thanks, Mike! EXCELLENT footage! I've been waiting for The Report and looking forward to any interesting findings from all that research!
how fortunate to have such spectacular footage! i read somewhere that mineral deposits can cause blockages, high pressures and releases like this, and as such is more an accumulation of force as opposed to a broad front of water flashing to steam from the collapse of a pocket or other sudden event
thanks Mr. Marsh
No problem, Stan!
(Fun Fact: Trey Parker's Dad, Randy Parker, was a USGS geologist!)
@@usgs lol, i didnt know that, lol
I love all of your videos, thanks! Yay for no injuries.
Who thinks that this kind of content needs to be attached as a link to every social media post? Let the crazies' fight it out for attention without dragging ordinary folk down the rabbit hole.
Social media apps are turning society into a children's playground. This video reminded me how to deal with news items like grown ups.
📋 *Very informative and reassuring report.* Thanks for pointing out the regularity (~three per year) and that these events are under-appreciated, as they are not well understood by the public. It's great that you lead by dispelling fear related to volcanic activity (notably the FUD related to Yellowstone Caldera.) Making this data available to the public in an easy to digest format is just what's needed, and it's appreciated. _Please keep making this content and sharing it to raise awareness._ 🏞
The US 🇺🇲 has amazing geology 😮! Watching from the UK 🇬🇧 stay safe!
Spectacular but not safe at all
Very well done and informative. Great video! :)
I’m always reassured listening to a government employee give explanations. lol.
Non-government geologists are giving the same explanation. If there were really something to worry about at Yellowstone, not only would "government employees" be sounding the alarm, so would every geologist in the world!
Water and steam on high pressure and heat result in local hydrothermal explosion.
Not mentioned in the video, but the hydrothermal explosion(s) that formed Mary Bay occurred about 13,800 years ago.
Thankyou for the update, hydrothermal activity is fascinating both chemically and physically, awesome when you think that life on earth potentially started in a place just like Diamond or Opal pool.
It was a beautiful eruption. It's great when a visit to Yellowstone Park also includes a bit of adventure. It really makes visitors realise where they are and what surprises nature can deliver. In my opinion, such happenings make the park really attractive.
Close it all for safety reasons. USGS needs to be put on Notice.
Great information and perspective on how many events like this are happening in YNP.
It's a true miracle that no one was injured 😮🙏
One of my favorite UA-cam accounts. Thank you for covering this!
Crowd's are running for their lives like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH JESUS CHRIST RUN AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
and then were like
ok let's go look at the elk next
Steamboat woke back up a few years ago after being dormant for a long time. Those first eruptions threw mud and rock into the air just like this one. That very same geyser in Biscuit Basin has exploded with an eruption like that before. Exact same place. It happens
Yes indeed, Biscuit Basin has a history of some decent explosions over the past 125 years.
Imagine seeing this in person so cool
WOW 😮😮That was one helluva a sneeze by the Planet. To try and clear it's Vent. There in the Park 🏞️🏞️ so close too Old Faithful geyser. Thankfully No Visitors were apparently close by when the Explosion 💥💥💥 took place. Thank You 🤔🤔👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, Lorde. I love your music.
Lorde, lorde lorde lorde...
(Here's a fun fact...Trey Parker's Dad, Randolph "Randy" Parker, was a USGS geologist!)
That was a powerful hydrothermal blow out. I am glad no one was hurt
Excellent footage and explanation. Thanks
The hole for the steam to escape trough has been couvered by the rocks which under great pressure were explosively thrown out together with the water/steam.
I love how this thread has so many great questions.
Happens all the time. It's so normal, they built a BOARDWALK right on top of it.
It wasn’t expected to happened on that side of the park, but it wasn’t inherently unusual.
Big deal. Pressure builds, pressure is released. Pretty simple really. You all should be thankful it's releasing pressure. When it doesn't, that's when you should be concerned.
Great job as usual!
I'm just glad everyone is okay.
You guys can't enter valid timestamps captions in video, can you?
The people in that iconic video can tell others that their vacation was a real "blast".
Thank you for the info
I thought Mike was in Hawaii now? I'm not gonna complain, I enjoy hearing his voice in the YVO updates!
No, he hasn't been based in Hawaii since 2015 (although he does continue to do field work and research there).
"A few hours ago, a number of hydrothermal explosions occurred in the caldera of the Yellowstone supervolcano, accompanied by swarms of earthquakes in the area. The explosions damaged a few structures and sent tourists fleeing from Yellowstone National Park. "
We're not sure where this quote comes from, but there were not "a number of hydrothermal explosions." There was one that occurred shortly before 10 AM on July 23. And the only structures that were damaged were some sections of boardwalk. It was an extraordinarily hazardous event, given the time and place it occurred, and fortunately there were no injuries or significant damage.
@@usgsI mean that quote technically isn’t wrong… One is a number 😜
@@haven216 Brilliant.
@@haven216 So you think "one explosions" would make sense... Not the most amusing part of that spastic spew that 911_TruthNow ((snicker)) quoted...
"Number of explosions"? No. "In the caldera"? ROTFL, no. "Swarms of earthquakes?"? No. "Damaged structures"? No. "Fleeing from the park"? No...rotflmao.
Yellowstone is a highly dangerous place in so many ways. Still, I would go there over any city.
Ngl, thought we were gonna be in for a very easy and potentially very cold winter. Thought I was gonna have to follow up on doomsday prep.
Wow look at the damage. Glad no one was injured.
Thanks for the update-- love the channel.
Boy that must have STUNK
Even Earth needs to let off a little steam once in a while.
Well spoken young fella
Geologist ," . Everythings fine, nothings happening here , nothing to see " . Everyones that watched" 2012 " , Sure buddy , whatever you say " . 😅
People who take movies seriously and studiously avoid actual learning should not say anything. They embarrass themselves.
@borismedved835 Lord have mercy child. I was making a joke. You dont have much of a sense of humor do you .🤦♀️
@@sarahrose4126 when you watch scientific illiterates like Mary Greely and Ron Tyler engaging in their fear mongering its sometimes hard to have a sense of humour :)
@Kiwigeo8339 You poor thing. I'll pray for you dear.
Lol...as I had read initially that this particular thing had NEVER happened in Yellowstones park history...but now that's different....😮
Not true at all that this as "never" happened. It happens with some regularity, just usually in the backcountry. Although there are also lots of examples of this sort of event being witness by people. Heck, there was one that happened in April this year! This is exactly the reason the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory has been talking about the hazards rom hydrothermal explosions for a long time. We've got a ton of info online about it. Can start with www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/hydrothermal-explosions-yellowstone-national-park.
I think we are fortunate to live in a time when we have a natural wonder of this magnitude.
Another example of just how great & spectacular this United States ALREADY is! 🇺🇸👊🙏👍💯 Ty for upload!
Excellent video. Thank you for this!
Title should be "Biscuit Basin Hydrovolcanic Eruption"
It was not a hydrovolcanic eruption.
Those people are super lucky 😅
That was a useful and informative report. Thanks!