A new hydrothermal vent was recently found at Yellowstone National Park by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Located in the northwestern area of the park within the Roadside Springs thermal region, a park scientist spotted a column of steam rising from the ground on August 5, 2024. The feature was determined to have a temperature of 171 degrees Fahrenheit and was surrounded by a thin layer of gray silicious clay, indicating its young age. Although the vent is newly discovered, it may be connected to a similar vent found over 20 years ago in the vicinity.
Situated at the base of a rhyolite lava flow, the new vent is part of an area of hydrothermally altered ground, according to the USGS. Throughout the fall season following its discovery, a visible plume of steam emanated from the vent, but gradually diminished as winter approached. The potential for the vent to produce another steam column this coming summer remains to be seen.
This finding occurred shortly after an eruption at Biscuit Basin within the park, where a geyser explosion caused debris to scatter, damaging a boardwalk and surprising park visitors. Yellowstone National Park houses various hydrothermal features driven by the magma reservoir beneath it, ranging from small vents like this new discovery to iconic geysers such as Old Faithful.
