Yellowstone volcano: How liquid was found ‘seeping’ through surface of 'active area'

The Yellowstone caldera gets its chilling nickname as a supervolcano due to its ability to inflict devastation on a global level. Located below the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, the supervolcano is constantly monitored by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) for signs that a supereruption is on its way. In April this year, geologists observed a new sign of activity when a so-called “thermal area” appeared on infrared scanners near Tern Lake. 

The thermal area described a part of the Yellowstone National Park where ground temperatures drastically spiked and burned away grass and trees. 

However, it is not the first event of its kind.

Dr Henry Heasler, a park geologist revealed a similar incident occurred five years ago during a Q&A session on YouTube.

He said in 2015: “In the summer of 2014 there was a three-mile section of road along the Firehole Lake Drive, which is a side road north of Old Faithful, that was closed because the pavement had become soft.

“Road oil was seeping out through the pavement.

“Reports were that this was due to increased geothermal activity in the area.

“People then became concerned that this indicated increased volcanic activity in the area.”

However, Dr Heasley explained it was a number of coinciding events that had caused the melting.

He added: “Yes, the road is in an active geothermal area, it’s a side road that allows people to view Great Fountain geysers, White Dome geysers and other thermal features.

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“As such, the road is on very hot ground.

“When we get a very hot day in the summer, with all the Sun beating down on the black asphalt, and the road had recently been chip sealed.

“So al the cracks in the road were sealed with oil, which not only stopped the rain from getting to the road, but also stopped the hot geothermal vapours from escaping the road.”

Dr Heasler went on to explain how a number of factors contributed to an area of the park being closed off.

He continued: “So the three things, the very hot air temperature above 80F, the road being in a thermal area and the asphalt basically being sealed by new road oil that was black, all coupled to deform the road. 

“Within two days, our park maintenance crews had been out and worked on the road, and fixed it.

“It was opened for travel and has been ever since the original closure.

“This also happened back in 2002, when a segment of the road near White Dome Geyser approached 196F, but there what occurred was roughly a 60-foot area being stripped off to allow the road to breathe.

“Gravel was placed down and that segment of road has been open ever since.”

source: express.co.uk