The Yellowstone National Park's mysterious hot geysers are up for intense study. Though well-mapped at the surface in terms of the park's iconic hydrothermal systems, the structure of the subsurface flow systems had been an enigma.
The new exercise seeks to study the unique plumbing structure and it started on Nov. 7 with a helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic (HEM) survey.
Coming together for the study are scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, Aarhus University in Denmark and University of Wyoming.
The mission aims at demarcating the subsurface zones of the Park in terms of cold fresh water, clay, hot saline water, steam and unaltered rock to explain the multifarious hydrothermal systems.
Developed in Demark, the electromagnetic system is very advanced and can map out groundwater supplies and distinguish between water and rocks in depths of about 1,500 feet below the surface.
The study, spread over many weeks, will have the HEM survey — led by SkyTEM — scanning the subsurface hydrothermal systems of Yellowstone like an X-ray to analyze the geophysical features of geysers, steam vents and look at recurring hydrothermal explosions that are creating huge craters of more than 1,000 feet of depth.
Pre-Determined Flight Path
During the survey, a low-flying helicopter at 200 feet above the surface will follow a pre-planned flight path and track the northern part of Yellowstone Lake and study areas such as Mammoth-Norris corridor and Upper Geyser Basins.
A hula hoop-like structure will hang from the helicopter's base, which is an electromagnetic device to record voltages relating to the electrical conductivity at the ground.
According to scientists, the readings obtained from the study will be analyzed alongside the available data on geological, geophysical and geochemical data to plug a knowledge gap on the deeper magmatic systems of the lake.
Previous research says hot water spurting from Yellowstone's geysers had its origin from old precipitation, snow, and rain percolating into the crust of the earth and returning to the surface.
However, there has been no serious information about the paths taken by the waters with little data on ground-based geological, hydrological and geophysical studies.
"Nobody knows anything about the flow paths for the hot water that erupts from Yellowstone's geysers," said lead scientist Carol Finn with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Hydrothermal Explosions
According to lead scientist Finn, the team is positive about gaining fresh insights on the massive hydrothermal explosions that happened in the park.
One such explosion that took place 13,800 years ago created a huge crater measuring 1-1/2 miles at the bottom of Yellowstone Lake and is considered the largest such crater in the world.
Similar to eruptions like Old Faithful, hydrothermal explosions happen when huge pockets of boiling water beneath the ground explode violently to the surface when there is a drop in pressure.
Overall, the scientists are hopeful that the new study will be rewarding given the strides they made in the U.S in exposing the hazards from volcanoes.
As far as Yellowstone Park is concerned, a better understanding of the hydrothermal phenomena will help administrators in planning the future development of the park in accordance with the tastes of tourists.
