If you have been keeping track of geyser activity in Yellowstone National Park, you may have noticed that March 4th was the most recent eruption of Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin. This was the 151steruption since the geyser reactivated in early 2018.
There was a total of 48 eruptions from January through December of 2019 which was a record in recorded history. Then it started tapering off again. So far this year, there have been only three eruptions – but it hasn’t gone back to sleep entirely. Intervals between eruptions have varied from three days to 50 years.
Scientists puzzle over why the thermal feature suddenly became so active three years ago and why it is now slowing down.
When Scientist in Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Mike Poland was asked about it last year, he told Jackson Hole Radio, “This is the sort of thing that is expected. Steamboat goes through periods of elevated activity and then returns to periods of less activity.” Still, when Steamboat does erupt, it reaches heights of about 300 feet, making it the tallest active geyser in the world.
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