Yellowstone Explosion
On Tuesday July 23rd, 2024 there was a geothermal explosion in Yellowstone. The explosion occured at the Black Diamond Pool of the Biscuit Basin geothermal area on a typical summer morning whilst visitors strolled the boardwalks adjacent the offending pool and others like it. In a video linked, geologist researcher Jamie Farrell, stated that there was a 2009 geothermal explosion in Biscuit Basin.
The explosion sent rock, mud, steam and boiling water hundreds of feet in the air. Rocks the size of softballs were hurtled 100 feet away. It was even powerful enough to send a rock three feet in diameter weighing hundreds of pounds skyward. Miraculously, no bystanders strolling the boardwalk that passes within 20 feet of the pool were hurt. The same could not be said for the boardwalk, which is now closed for the season due to the damage.
Does this explosive event herald the eruption of the Yellowstone Supervolcano? Could this spell the end for civilization as we know it? No, not anytime soon geologists tell us. Hydrothermal explosions like this one actually occur relatively often within Yellowstone atop the caldera of the supervolcano where most of the geyser basins like Biscuit Basin sit. (Other famous geothermal features like the Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful, and Morning Glory Pool also sit atop Yellowstone's gargantuan Caldera for reference). For instance, earlier this year, a similar hydrothermal explosion occurred at a the Norris Geyser Basin about 25 miles away.
This has been a typical year in that regard, with a couple of noteworthy hydrothermal explosions having already occurred. That explosion wasn't wasn't captured on video like the Black Diamond Explosion on the 23rd. Just like the average earthquake count detected within the park is 2500 annually, hydrothermal explosions like this which occur with some regularity, but without epic video captured of the event from multiple angles by steady-handed onlookers. All are just a part of life for this dormant but still active volcano which is the geothermal driver of all of this activity.
Not long after Yellowstone's official exploration by the US government and it's establishment as the country's, indeed the world's first, national park yellowstone has had multiple geothermal explosions of note.
The first of which was the explosion of the Mud Volcano. Today you can visit a geothermal area named for that very feature. The Mud Volcano, however, no longer erupts. It is still quite an active geothermal feature with noteably violent churning of acid mud the roils and boils around the clock. When Washburn-Doane Expedition of 1870 first documented it erupting from a cone in such violent fashion that it could be heard from a half mile away. But by the time the Hayden Expedition arrived to survey the area a year later the Mud Volcano had blown itself up in a hydrothermal explosion and the cone from which it had erupted was now a crater with a mud pot in the bottom of it that we see today.
Another hydrothermal explosion blurs the lines between geyser eruptions and a more anomolous event like the July 23rd event at Black Diamond Pool. Located several miles from the Black Diamond Pool and Biscuit Basin at the Midway Geyser Basin sits the Excelsior Geyser, which is now a dormant. The entire hot spring and geyser sits within a 'blast crater' that constantly flows out into the Firehole River at a rate of 4-4.5 thousand gallons per minute of nearly boiling water. You pass by this while walking the boardwalk en route to the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring. During the 1800's however, many of its eruptions were documented, and even photographed in 1888. They were, as described by then park superintendant Philetus Norris as:
"...simply incredible, elevating to heights of 100 to 300 feet, sufficient water to render the Fire Hole River, nearly 100 yards wide, [into] a foaming torrent of steaming hot water, and hurling rocks of from one to 100 pounds in weight, like those from an exploded mine, over surrounding acres."
Those eruptions seen by early park officials and visitors that ejected rocks were violent enough to be described as hydrothermal explosions, but the structure of the 'crater' implies and even more violent eruption in Excelsior's past.
Thus, Yellowstone is an extreme dynamic place from a geologic perspective. Lava that sits roughly two miles below the surface within the caldera is the driving energetic force for these events. Change is, indeed, it's only constant. Though in its dormant state between eruptions - the last being roughly 640,000 years ago - Yellowstone will continue to see these hydrothermal explosions as subterrainean water bores new cracks into rock and finds new routes to the surface (sometimes violently).
Yellowstone Bear Identification: What Makes Grizzly and Black Bears Different?
A guide to knowing the difference between the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems two species of bears.
Distinguishing between the two types of bears in Greater Yellowstone can be tricky. But, by observing their physical features and behaviors, you can spot many differences. Let's check out the distinct traits of grizzly and black bears.
Grizzly #399 taking a little rest from her 4 cubs at the time in Grand Teton National Park. Notice the shape of her claws, dished face, rounded ears, and prominent shoulder hump.
Traits of Grizzly Bears
Large prominent hump above the shoulders
Elongated, gently curved claws, similar to a shovel blade profile
Short rounded ears
A dished face, think of an orangutan
Long “grizzled” guard hairs that are most pronounced around the girth band, and the facial margins.
Generally larger size. females average 300-400 pounds and males around 400-550 pounds.
Prone to hyper-aggression when acting in the defense of a food resource, offspring, or a perceived threat.
Grizzly bears are perfectly adapted for digging tasks. Their claw shape, resembling a shovel blade, is a deliberate feature enabling them to excavate efficiently. Paired with their strong, muscular-skeletal framework, these bears possess significant digging capabilities. These attributes prove invaluable when the bear needs to construct a den for hibernation, uncover carrion buried under thick winter snow, or access subterranean food sources. Despite their strength, grizzly bears can exhibit surprising delicacy in tasks demanding meticulous precision, like extracting insect larvae from tiny crevices using just a single claw.
In Hayden Valley, a grizzly sow with two cubs of the year in tow digs out a subterranean food source in rocky soil.
The mentality of a grizzly bear is driven by a fierce urge to assert dominance over anything that obstructs its desires. Extreme aggression becomes prevalent when grizzlies perceive a threat to something they hold dear, whether it be a food source, family, or any other motivation. Particularly large male bears often exhibit behavior akin to that of a formidable schoolyard bully. They actively seek opportunities to pilfer fresh kills from wolves or intimidate rival bears into relinquishing their prey. Once the most imposing bear secures a carcass, its ownership remains unwavering, with little hope of deterring it. Typically, this dominant bear will guard the carcass fervently, indulging in an extended feast that epitomizes the concept of gluttony.
A large boar grizzly feeds on a bull bison carcass at LeHardy Rapids in Yellowstone National Park. Securing food resources of this quality requires hyper-aggressive behavior to establish and retain control. Notable are the lacerations on the bear's face, evidence of a fierce altercation with another formidable boar vying for possession of the prized carcass.
A black mother bear walks at the edge of the forest close to Yellowstone Lake. Look at her tall, pointed ears. See the straight line from her nose to her forehead. Notice her hips are even with her shoulders. This picture shows that color doesn't always tell you the type of bear you're looking at.
Traits of Black Bears
More of a crescent shaped back, shoulders generally are lower or flush with the hips.
Shorter claws with an abrupt hook, similar to a cat claw.
Tall, pointy ears.
Continuity from the head to the snout, contrasting to the dished face of a grizzly.
Excellent tree climbers.
Can be aggressive for the same reasons as a grizzly, but are less likely to do so.
Females average around 150 - 200 pounds, and males around 250-350 pounds..
Black bear claws are relatively short, with an abrupt hook.
Black bears are specifically suited for their forest habitat. Their distinctive claws, with a sharp curvature, are ideally crafted to navigate the wooded environment they call home. These specialized claws make it effortless for them to tear apart logs and access a diverse range of food sources. Moreover, these claws serve a dual purpose as they enable black bears to scale trees, seeking safety and nourishment within the rich offerings of the forest canopy.
A black bear demonstrating its superb climbing abilities.
Glaciers: Past and Present in the Jackson Hole Valley
A description of the history of Glaciers in the Jackson Hole Valley. From persisting remnant glaciers still in existence, to the extinct giants of the pleistocene.
High above the floor of the Jackson Hole Valley lies the largest remnant glacier that still exists in the Tetons, the Teton Glacier (shown underneath Teewinot mountain in the below photo).
Teton Glacier from Teewinot Summit
Alpine glaciers, such as the ones found in the Teton mountain range, have played a crucial role in shaping the breathtaking landscape we admire today. Approximately 23,000 years ago, during the period known as the Pinedale Glaciation, the glaciers reached their maximum extent. By around 10,000 years ago, most of the Yellowstone region was ice-free, signaling the conclusion of the Pleistocene epoch. From 1400 to 1850, North America experienced a minor climatic shift, ushering in the Little Ice Age and supporting the growth of alpine glaciers. During this period, glaciers once again advanced down the mountains, eroding rock and debris from their cirques. Acting as powerful bulldozers, glaciers left behind moraines—debris piles—along their edges as they moved.
Recessional Moraine of Teton Glacier from Disappointment Peak
In the photograph provided above, the recessional moraine formed by the activity of the Teton glacier during the little ice age is visible from Disappointment Peak. These moraine features serve as vital indicators for scientists to measure historical glacier retreats and advances. Notably, the Teton Glacier stands out as one of the largest in the American Rockies. The information collected from this location plays a critical role in enhancing our comprehension of the contemporary climate change dynamics on our planet.
Geomorphology of the Jackson Hole valley is nothing short of fascinating. The surrounding landscape is a natural classroom in many facets. It shows us evidence of powerful forces that have created what we see today. At surface level, there are few agents of change as effective as glaciers. During the Pleistocene, or the last ice age, much of Jackson Hole was inundated by enormous rivers of ice.
Starting about 2.5 million years ago, the earths climate began to shift towards a sustained period of cold temperatures that lasted until about 15,000 years ago. During this time there were many periods of glacial advance and retreat. Our discussion is relevant to the most recent of those periods, the Bull Lake, and Pinedale glaciations. The Bull Lake glacial period lasted roughly 70,000 years, from 200,000 to 130,000 years ago. The smaller Pinedale spanned about 20,000 years, from 30,000 to 10,000 years ago.
In the photo above, you can see the maximum extent of the Pinedale glacial period highlighted by the white outline. Known as a terminal moraine, it is as far as the glaciers from that period ever expanded.
Highlighted in red are some the few remaining preservations of Bull Lake moraine depositions. Something that is very apparent with these is the obvious interruption to the continuity of this older moraine. A result of cottonwood creek boring its way through the moraine and creating an outwash plain in the gap as it meanders back and forth over time.
Knowing the fundamentals of these land altering mechanisms allows one to draw conclusions about events, and timeline, that created what is seen around us in Grand Teton National Park, and the surrounding region.
The American Serengeti: Yellowstone’s Great Grasslands.
Yellowstone harbors the last bastion of primordial temperate grasslands in the United States. The Northern Range is the best place to experience this sublime ecosystem.
Lamar Valley in all it’s splendor.
Yellowstone’s Northern Range is a primeval grassland ecosystem. It is a portal back in time, to the west that North America’s Native Peoples experienced. The volume and diversity of wildlife in this region is astonishing. It is one of the most celebrated wildlife areas amongst all of our National Parks, and is frequently featured in major wildlife documentary productions. Here, it is possible to view over a thousand bison in a single vista. Elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, amd deer are common sights, with the occasional moose. Grizzly bears numbers are strong here. Black bears heavily occupy forested fringes of the Northern Range. Half of all the wolves that live in Yellowstone are here, and it is the highest density of wolves anywhere in North America. As wildlife guides, we always jump at the opportunity check in on the goings on of the Northern Range because we know the kind of wildlife sightings it can produce.
Getting Oriented: Foxes and Magnetic Fields
Watching a fox hunt is spectacular but the suspense can be almost unbearable! Their spellbinding leaps appear to happen like magic - how does the fox know exactly where the mouse they are hunting might be? They seem to almost have a sixth sense. Well… It turns out they might.
It’s not intuitive to think of a four legged mammal as an aerial hunter. Yet, foxes clearly depend on their ability to take prey from the air. Watching a fox hunt is spectacular but the suspense can be almost unbearable! Their spellbinding leaps appear to happen like magic - how does the fox know exactly where the mouse they are hunting might be? They seem to have a sixth sense. Well… It turns out they might.
Researchers studying foxes in the Czech Republic found that a fox’s leaps are much more likely to result in dinner if the fox is oriented in a Northeasterly or Southwesterly direction. Why? It seems foxes are using magnetic inputs in addition to sound to accurately determine their distance from their prey. This is particularly interesting because other documented cases of animals using magnetic information do so to determine direction, not distance.
To imagine this, it’s helpful to understand how a fox hunts prey it cannot see. First, a fox hears something that sparks her interest. She tilts her head so that each ear is at a different height above the ground, a technique that is typical of dogs, wolves, coyotes, and foxes - all members of the Canid family. By orienting her ears in this way, she is better able to determine the general location of her prey. Then, she approaches the prey she can hear, but not see, until the sound she hears aligns with the angle of the magnetic field of the Earth-when this happens, she knows precisely where her prey is located.
A coyote performing a precision dive in an attempt to catch a vole.
Amazingly, foxes who approach their prey from a Northeasterly direction are successful 73% of the time, regardless of whether the fox is hunting in a field, in brush, or in deep snow. Her ability to sense the geomagnetic field is like a rangefinder-she is using the Earth’s magnetic field to determine her exact distance from her prey and she does not need to be able to see to gather this data. Regardless of the terrain and conditions, she listens, cocks her head to gather more information, uses her magnetic sense to determine her distance from her prey, and relies on her remarkable athleticism to attack her prey from above.
Sources
Cervený, J., Begall, S., Koubek, P., Nováková, P., & Burda, H. (2011, March 02). Directional preference may enhance hunting accuracy in foraging foxes. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2010.1145
Yong, E. (2011, January 11). Foxes use the Earth's magnetic field as a targeting system. Retrieved January 13, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2011/01/11/foxes-use-the-earths-magnetic-field-as-a-targeting-system/
A Sparring Match: Bull Moose in the Tetons
Seeing a moose is always special, but seeing two bulls sparring is a highlight of anyone’s trip.
Seeing a moose is always special, but seeing two bulls sparring is a highlight of anyone’s trip. On a recent tour, we saw just that. We took the group to one of our favorite spots to find moose and were treated to two males grazing together, but the peace didn’t last long as the boys began to bicker by pushing each other with their massive antlers.
Sparring behavior is common in younger males and is thought to help the bulls prepare for the fighting that will come later in life as they seek to assert their dominance and gain control of female groups, which will allow them to pass along their genes. Sparring consists of gentle pushing (gentle if you’re a moose...) and is not preceded or followed by threat displays or chasing. It’s unusual for older bulls to spar; rather, they engage in full-on fights that are violent and can result in serious damage. Moose antlers are actually organs and are incredible weapons - they are sharp to inflict injury and broad to serve as pushing tools and shields.
In this case, the larger bull’s antler popped off. Antlers are shed annually, often between December and January, but it’s the first time we’ve seen a moose shed an antler quite like this! As is typical with sparring behavior, the bulls did not do any permanent damage to one another and stayed together after the incident.
We loved witnessing this with our clients and take great pride in helping visitors find these once in a lifetime experiences.
Remember that moose can be incredibly dangerous! Mature bulls weigh upwards of 1600 pounds and all moose are very fast. They don’t have great senses of humor, so it’s important to keep your distance for their sake, and yours.