Biscuit Basin Explosion

What just happened at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park? Kaboom! Visitors witnessed a towering plume of steam, rock and mud rise several hundred feet into the air. The brief July 23 event was a classic example of a hydrothermal explosion, not a volcanic eruption. And with all the hot water circulating in the subsurface of this active volcano, it’s no surprise that hydrothermal explosions are Yellowstone’s most common geologic hazard.

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[peterschorn]

"Whew! That was a narrow escape. Now let's go over and pet those fluffy cows."

[bassangler]

Glad no one was hurt! Yellowstone is an amazing place!

[dionh]

Every single person in the proximity of that event was astonishingly fortunate, and many of them were children. That entire situation could have turned out horrifyingly worse.

[TheRangerBob]

The dynamics of a living planet. This event was tiny in scale, a reminder that Earth events of varying scales happen and we can't do anything about them.

[phronsiekeys]

Given the looks of that boardwalk, I think we were lucky that no one was hurt.

[tybehny]

I'm glad this video exists. Short, concise, and intelligent explanations of current events help to keep the peace.

[JulieAiken]

As soon as I heard about this I was looking forward to your report! Great work, as usual. Never a dull moment at Yellowstone!

[hikerdude]

You're a good speaker and reporter. Thanks for the great report!

[quakekatut]

Thanks for all the great explanations and data! You're doing a great job!

[brianmckee]

Thanks for the facts and the alternate video!

[Kevin-lose]

Thanks. I was just there at the end of June and early July and the Biscuit Basin area was very active and beautiful.

[alainaaugust]

USGS, I saw this same image with flames in it on another YT site. I ignored its end-of-the-world headline title and told myself to wait for the objective truth. And here it is. From actual geologists. Can you sue people who steal your stuff, efface it with a lie, and seek gain for it? I know you probably can’t but I wish you could. Thanks for the truth. Blessings on your good work for our country.

[jeromereed]

Very cool event! I was there two years ago and fished in the Firehole River. Amazing to see the steam rising from Biscuit Basin while trout fishing in a cold stream!

[aaronsmith]

Mike Poland is awesome. Been watching him for years in PBS/Horizon documentaries. A very good communicator. Glad the USGS had him do this to counter some of this crazy misinformation about what happened here.

[Mile-long-list]

As crazy as Yellowstone is I will go there one day I think I just have to see it for myself !! This USGS channel is the best they provide so much information and great videos thanks so much !!!!

[PotteryLife]

Thank you very much, Mike. Wow. What a mess!

[icare]

Safety glasses and my hard hat on each time I visit Yellowstone National Park.

[JohnnyAngel]

Good to see you, Mike! Thanks for the timely update.

[Psycandy]

how fortunate to have such spectacular footage! i read somewhere that mineral deposits can cause blockages, high pressures and releases like this, and as such is more an accumulation of force as opposed to a broad front of water flashing to steam from the collapse of a pocket or other sudden event

[skynet]

So many people got hung up on this not being related to volcanic activity for some reason... It's like it's not even common knowledge anymore that you need more than just a single event like this before you should start to fear an eruption.

I usually go with the rule of thumb that if normal people are scared, you can be alert, but not alarmed. If experts in the field are scared, THEN you should start being scared as well as alert!