U of U Seismograph Station Research: Earthquake Activity in the Yellowstone National Park Area

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Yellowstone Park One of the World's Hot Spots- and there is more to it than just hot water! Research at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) extends beyond the boundaries of the State of Utah. One important component of the work at the station is to monitor earthquake activity in the Yellowstone/Teton National Parks area. UUSS researchers and students have a long tradition of working to understand the dormant volcanic system at Yellowstone. They have also been working to better understand the potential dangers of the Teton Fault. The spectacular scenery of the Teton's is the result of this fault; but, it also provides a constant earthquake threat to residents and visitors. UUSS research projects are aimed at better understanding the likelihood of future earthquakes and eruptions. Yellowstone Volcanoes - Dormant, but not extinct Why would the UUSS monitor earthquakes at Yellowstone? Recording and locating earthquakes provides the best way to determine if magma is moving underneath a volcano. Even though an eruption has not occurred at Yellowstone for 70,000 years, the continuous earthquake activity and the thermal features indicate that molten rock exists and is moving underneath Yellowstone Park. In addition, other scientists have monitored the rising and falling of the surface of the Earth in the general vicinity of Yellowstone Lake. From 1923 to 1986, about three feet of uplift have been documented at Le Hardy's Rapids. Since 1986, this same area now appears to be subsiding. The term "heavy breathing" has been coined for this type of up and down movement to the Earth's surface and it is thought to be caused by magma moving within the crust below. Past eruptions at Yellowstone have been tremendously large. No historical eruption has ever come even close to the size of the eruptions that have occurred at Yellowstone. The UUSS monitoring of this area is vital to keeping track of any threat of potential eruptions. A real-time recording of earthquakes at several Yellowstone locations can be accessed. The Yellowstone stations are found at the end of this listing (station names beginning with "Y"). Hot Spot - Does Yellowstone's Magma and Heat Originate in the Earth's Mantle? If you visit the park, you are likely to observe how the Yellowstone area is a high plateau and that it is a noticeable uphill drive as you enter into the Park. Hundreds of earthquakes occur every year and you may be able to feel one. As you watch a geyser erupting, you might consider where the heat comes from to keep this ancient volcano alive and provide the spectacular thermal features that are so intriguing. Scientists are working to understand why such an unusual combination of geologic features occurs at Yellowstone. One idea is that the elevation of the Earth's surface and the thermal features are both caused by a "Hot Spot" in the mantle, deep in the Earth beneath the park. UUSS scientists are part of a larger group of people who are working to understand this very special place.