Temporal variations of geyser water chemistry in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, USA

A study of geysers in Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin reveals that despite significant changes in eruption intervals, the chemical composition of Old Faithful Geyser has remained remarkably stable for over 120 years. This stability suggests no major alterations in the hydrothermal system, providing a baseline for monitoring future changes. Researchers analyzed water chemistry and isotopes from five geysers between 2007 and 2008, finding that smaller-volume geysers exhibit greater seasonal variations due to factors like evaporation, meteoric water recharge, and interactions with the Firehole River. The study also detected modern meteoric water in Aurum and Oblong Geysers, indicating dynamic hydrological processes.

Hurwitz, S., Hunt, A. G., & Evans, W. C. (2012). Temporal variations of geyser water chemistry in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, USA. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 13(12). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012gc004388