https://www.kron4.com/news/national...t-yellowstone-causes-temporary-shutdown-usgs/A small hydrothermal explosion occurred in Yellowstone National Park today (July 23, 2024) around 10:00 AM MST in the Biscuit Basin thermal area, about 2.1 miles (3.5 km) northwest of Old Faithful. Numerous videos of the event were recorded by visitors. The boardwalk was damaged, but there were no reports of injury. The explosion appears to have originated near Black Diamond Pool.
Biscuit Basin, including the parking lot and boardwalks, are temporary closed for visitor safety. The Grand Loop road remains open. Yellowstone National Park geologists are investigating the event.
Yellowstone National Park geologists are investigating the explosion but say data shows no out-of-the-ordinary volcanic activity.
Hydrothermal explosions often send boiling water, steam, mud and rock into the air and can reach heights of up to 1.2 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It said in a 2018 report that large hydrothermal explosions happen on average every 700 years. At least 25 craters have been identified in the park that are at least 328 feet wide, according to the report.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-022-01571-7Phreatic and hydrothermal eruptions are explosive phenomena ubiquitous to volcanoes, calderas and tectonic rifts areas (Browne and Lawless 2001). Phreatic eruptions are produced by explosive expansion of groundwater due to the sudden arrival of heat and gas from intruding magma (or magmatic fluids), whereas hydrothermal eruptions result from the flashing and expansion of hydrothermal water without the need for any magmatic input (Mastin 1995; Browne and Lawless 2001; Thiéry and Mercury 2009). Despite their comparatively small size, these eruptions can be deadly as they often lack precursors (Barberi et al. 1992; Hurst et al. 2014; Stix and de Moor 2018).