It appears Steamboat Geyser is not picking up the pace after it showed a marked slow-down in eruptions since the beginning of the year. Why it suddenly became more active in 2018, and why it is slowing down again now remains a mystery for those who study Yellowstone’s geysers.
When it began its unusually active cycle on March 15th, 2018, it had been three years since the previous eruption. Then in 2019 and again in 2020, Steamboat erupted 48 times during the year. So far this year, it has erupted 13 times compared with 29 over the same time period last year.
Michael Poland, Scientist-in-Charge at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory says,” Steamboat goes through periods of elevated activity and then returns to periods of less activity, so we knew the current show would eventually end.” However, since the area is in the midst of a drought, scientists wonder if the lack of groundwater might also be related to the decline in activity.
photo:nps
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