The Yellowstone volcano has erupted three times in history – 2.1 million years ago, 1.3 million years ago and 630,000 years ago. Jacob Lowenstein, from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), lifted the lid on the first geological exploration of the Yellowstone National Park. During their stay, the group experienced an “earthquake swarm” which shook the trees and the ground beneath them.
In 1871, Ferdinand Vanderveer Hayden led a team of 50 keen geologists on the first exploration of the Yellowstone volcano.
Mr Lowenstein revealed how the team gathered information on the supervolcano.
He said in 2014: “Ferdinand Hayden was one of the people who ran the expedition that went through Yellowstone.
“This was the group that eventually got the US Geological Survey started about ten years later.
“Hayden brought along William Henry Jackson – a photographer – and Thomas Moran – a painter.
“They collected samples, they documented what they were seeing and they did it both through photography and paintings.
“They were sent back to Washington and were instrumental in having Congress set aside Yellowstone as a national park.”
Mr Lowenstein also revealed how Mr Hayden realised it was a volcanic area.
He added: “He recognised it was a volcanic area and he knew it was not too long in the geologic past that it was active.
“He put it a little bit older than it actually is and he also recognised that the hot springs and water were related to the volcanic system.
“He and his colleagues camped on the north side of Yellowstone Lake and they experienced another remarkable thing that we know about Yellowstone – there are a lot of earthquakes.
“They experienced what we now call an earthquake swarm, where they were awakened in the middle of the night by a series of shocks that shook the trees.”
The revelation comes after Mr Lowenstein’s colleague and Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland sent a warning over a plan by NASA.
The space agency came up with a concept to drill into the hydrothermal system and cool the volcano.
The idea could apparently “save the world” and cost around £2.7billion.
However, Mr Poland did not back it.
He said in 2018: “There are no plans to actually do this, it was just a plan in concept.
“But there is no plan to do any drilling at Yellowstone and I can’t imagine it would ever be allowed as it is a national park.
“It would not have the intended effect either – it’s not even a good idea.”
Mr Poland went on to claim the drilling could also spoil the natural beauty of Yellowstone.
He added: “It would have the potential drawbacks of affecting all of the natural features at Yellowstone.
“At other places in the world where geothermal wells have been drilled near geysers, it has actually muted the activity completely.
“So it is unlikely to happen.”