YELLOWSTONE, Wyo. (ABC4) — Biscuit Basin at Yellowstone National Park was shut down on Tuesday morning, July 23, after a hydrothermal explosion sent debris flying and destroyed the nearby boardwalk.
Park officials said the explosion happened just after 10 a.m. near the Sapphire Pool, just north of Old Faithful. No injuries were reported as a result of the explosion and the officials are still assessing the extent of the damage.
Biscuit Basin, including the parking lot and boardwalks, has been temporarily shut down for safety reasons, however, park officials said the Grand Loop Road still remains open.
What is a hydrothermal explosion?
Hydrothermal explosions are described as “violent and dramatic events” by the United States Geological Survey. These explosions can reach incredible mile-high heights and spew boiling water, steam, mud, and rock fragments more than two miles out from the epicenter.
“Hydrothermal explosions occur where shallow interconnected reservoirs of fluids with temperatures at or near the boiling point underlie thermal fields,” USGS explained. “These fluids can rapidly transition to steam if the pressure suddenly drops. Since vapor molecules take up much more space than liquid molecules, the transition to steam results in a significant expansion and blows apart surrounding rocks and ejects debris.”
These explosions typically occur within the Yellowstone Caldera and along the Norris-Mammoth tectonic corridor in Montana.
Yellowstone Park officials said the explosion does not reflect any change in the volcanic system at the national park, which remains at normal background levels of activity.
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