Yellowstone National Park officials have announced the temporary closure of the Biscuit Basin area following a hydrothermal explosion that occurred on Tuesday morning. The incident, which took place near the Sapphire Pool around 10 a.m. local time, resulted in the closure of Biscuit Basin, its parking lot, and boardwalks for safety reasons.
According to the US Geological Survey, hydrothermal explosions are violent events that involve the rapid ejection of boiling water, steam, mud, and rock fragments. These explosions occur in areas where shallow interconnected reservoirs of fluids with temperatures near the boiling point underlie thermal fields. The sudden drop in pressure can cause these fluids to transition rapidly to steam, leading to significant expansion and the ejection of debris.
While no injuries were reported in this incident, investigators are still assessing the extent of the damage caused. The park has experienced similar hydrothermal explosions in the past, with the most recent one occurring in Biscuit Basin in 2009.
Despite the occurrence of these explosions, park officials have clarified that they do not indicate an imminent volcanic eruption. Monitoring data show no changes in the Yellowstone region, and the volcanic system remains at normal background levels of activity. Large hydrothermal explosions are rare events, with an average occurrence of every 700 years.
The USGS has stated that based on historical data, the potential for future hydrothermal explosion events in Yellowstone National Park is not insignificant. While these events are not a sign of impending volcanic eruptions and are not caused by magma rising to the surface, the park continues to monitor the situation closely.
