Yellowstone caldera is one of the most unique places on Earth. No where else do you find so much evidence of massive volcanic eruptions combined with oodles of modern hot springs, mudpots and more. Now, it’s those “massive volcanic eruptions” that get most people’s attention, so much so that every little hiccup at the caldera can garner media attention.
Yet, Yellowstone is not on the brink of some cataclysmic eruption. To understand why, it helps to look at what the typical year at Yellowstone is like (volcanically-speaking). When you do, you quickly see how much (and how little) is going on during any given year.
Luckily for us, the job is made easier by the annual report of the activity and research at Yellowstone put together by the US Geological Survey. The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory staff (both of them) carefully lay out all the ins and outs of earthquakes, ground motion, water chemistry, geyser activity and more. 2021 was a pretty average year at the caldera, so what’s that look like?
