Hydrothermal Explosion in Yellowstone National Park: Drama and Spectacle without Injuries

An impressive hydrothermal explosion startled visitors at Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday morning. In the Biscuit Basin region, boiling water, mud, and rocks shot into the sky in a high column, destroying parts of the boardwalk. The dramatic scene was captured by several tourists, fortunately with no injuries reported, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The incident occurred around 10 a.m., just a few miles north of the famous Old Faithful Geyser. Michael Poland from the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory explained that this hydrothermal explosion took place near the Black Diamond Pool and is distinctly different from the regular eruptions of Old Faithful. Such explosions occur when water in underground conduits suddenly turns to steam. This can be caused by events like earthquakes, which was not the case here. Poland attributed the incident to a local change in the hydrothermal system that built up pressure, eventually leading to the explosion. Similar explosions were recorded earlier this year in the Norris Geyser Basin and also in the Biscuit Basin in 2009. USGS officials stressed that the event is not related to any changes in volcanic activity in the park. Although hydrothermal explosions in the park are relatively common, occurring about twice a year, they often take place in remote areas and usually go unnoticed. This time, however, the presence of many tourists with smartphones ensured comprehensive documentation. Poland expressed his amazement at the dramatic scenes captured on video. The boardwalks, which stretch over more than a dozen miles through the park, allow visitors to closely experience the fascinating thermal springs, geysers, and mud pots, despite or perhaps because of their pungent sulfur smell and the strange bubbling and spitting noises. Since the opening of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, about two dozen people have been injured or killed by burns from thermal explosions, more than twice as many as from wildlife attacks. However, none of these incidents were due to unexpected activities like the current one in Biscuit Basin. Michael Poland emphasized that no fatalities have resulted from such explosions. Most incidents are due to burns, as many hot springs exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit. In 2022, a human foot was found in the Abyss Pool, linked to the accidental death of a 70-year-old man. Just last month, a 21-year-old tourist was sentenced to a week in jail for straying off the designated path near the Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world. A park employee had observed the rule violation.