A hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone National Park Tuesday sent steam and debris into the air, freaked out a number of tourists and damaged a boardwalk in the Biscuit Basin area, but it did not signal an imminent catastrophic volcanic eruption.
No injuries were reported, but the area is closed until further notice.
It’s well known that many of Yellowstone’s wonders sit atop a quiet supervolcano, which has long been a source of overheated concern and conspiracy theories. Tying even the most insignificant and normal seismic tremor in the region to the huge caldera has become a popular form of click-bait over the past few decades.
Right on cue, some headlines and social media this week have been filled with Yellowstone doom-mongering.
As my colleague David Bressan noted, this week’s explosion has nothing to do with the movement of magma far beneath Yellowstone or other volcanic activity. It is more likely the result of steam trapped closer to the surface that finally broke free in dramatic fashion. And in fact, volcanic activity beneath the park actually remains normal this week.
“Hydrothermal explosions occur when water suddenly flashes to steam underground, and they are relatively common in Yellowstone,” the US Geological Survey said in a statement.
If you need more reassurance, consider the science. Recent studies have suggested that prior to an eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera, we will likely see clear warning signs for at least decades, centuries or even longer beforehand. The place will start to rumble and rattle and literally writhe and deform before it pops its top.
And the explosion seen this week of a little steam doesn’t come anywhere close to qualifying as such a warning sign.
Furthermore, an eruption at Yellowstone doesn’t have to be an apocalypse, either. It could be far less exciting but still dramatic.
So rest easy folks, Wyoming and Montana will still be there tomorrow morning.
