Timing and Triggers of Hydrothermal Explosions in Yellowstone

Presentation: “Timing and Triggers of Hydrothermal Explosions in Yellowstone” by Dr. Lauren Harrison, Colorado State University

September 1st (Tuesday), 6 p.m., Social half-hour; please join us from 5:30-6:00 to enjoy free soft drinks and appetizers before our talk begins!

Live at the Teton County Library & Via Zoom (online)

RAFFLE AT 6PM!

The Prize: COLUMBIAN MAMMOTH TOOTH (Mammuthus columbi)
Late Pleistocene (~30,000–12,000 years old)

This beautiful cross-section of a Columbian mammoth tooth was recovered by scuba divers from the rivers of Florida,
where Ice Age fossils have been preserved for thousands of years. It has been expertly cut and polished on both sides to
a brilliant finish, revealing the intricate enamel plates that made mammoth teeth such efficient grinding tools.

Raffle rules:

  • Must be present to win.
  • All attendees will receive one ticket.
  • Drawing will be at 6:00 pm in the library auditorium.

Sapphire and Black Diamond Pools in Biscuit Basin

Presentation: “Timing and Triggers of Hydrothermal Explosions in Yellowstone” by Dr. Lauren Harrison, Colorado State University

Hydrothermal explosions are the instantaneous flashing of hydrothermal fluids in the subsurface to steam upon depressurization. This causes catastrophic boiling that throws rocks, sediment, debris, and water into the air. These explosions are the most frequently occurring hazard of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, yet what causes them is still poorly understood. This talk will discuss what we have learned from a recent (2024) observed hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin and from the study of older hydrothermal explosion craters in Lower Geyser Basin. Long story short, the geology is the key!

Topic: “Timing and Triggers of Hydrothermal Explosions in Yellowstone”

Time: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4555651818?pwd=U09ObDNZOEIyZmRtMEtsdUowQnJqdz09
Meeting ID: 455 565 1818
Passcode: 576063