A spectacular and muddy eruption from a notoriously unpredictable hot spring in Yellowstone National Park was captured in vivid detail over the weekend, providing scientists with a rare clear view of the volatile phenomenon.
A Dramatic "Kablooey" Captured on Camera
The dramatic event occurred at the Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin on Saturday morning. At approximately 9:23 am local time, the murky pool erupted, spewing dark plumes of mud and water into the air. The United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Volcanoes team described the moment with the succinct and evocative term: "Kablooey!"
This eruption was particularly significant because it was clearly visible, unlike many recent events at the same pool. Previous eruptions have often happened at night or when the monitoring camera was iced over, making them audible but not visible to researchers.
Enhanced Monitoring Pays Off
The clear footage is a direct result of upgraded monitoring installed in the area. Following a significant hydrothermal explosion in July 2024 that damaged a boardwalk and hurled debris hundreds of feet, researchers took action. This summer, they installed a new camera alongside a seismic and acoustic monitoring station.
These instruments, combined with temperature sensors managed by the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program, are designed to better detect and characterise these unpredictable eruptions. The investment proved its worth on Saturday. "We got a nice clear view of one of these dirty eruptions under bright blue skies with the surroundings covered in snow," the USGS noted on social media, calling it a great example of activity observed over the past 19 months.
Since the July 2024 event, the pool has experienced sporadic "dirty eruptions" reaching up to 40 feet high.
Yellowstone's Extraordinary Hydrothermal Landscape
The Black Diamond Pool is situated roughly midway between two of Yellowstone's most famous landmarks: the regularly erupting Old Faithful geyser and the vast, colourful Grand Prismatic Spring. Yellowstone is home to the planet's most extraordinary collection of hydrothermal features, with more than 10,000 hot springs, geysers, mud pots, and fumaroles within the park. Over 500 of these features are classified as geysers.
The park is also a renowned sanctuary for wildlife, including bison, bear, and moose, which roam the same dramatic landscape shaped by immense volcanic forces.
