The science behind geyser blasts

Why do geysers erupt? From Yellowstone National Park to geothermal fields in Iceland, researchers travel the world to understand geysers and what makes them blow. Check out how scientists study these geothermal phenomena and their subterranean origins.

Read more about it on our article, “Thar she blows: The what, why and where of geysers.”

Transcript

When you think of a geyser, Yellowstone’s Old Faithful probably comes to mind. The famous landmark is known for producing a predictable blast of water and steam every one to two hours. But not all are so consistent. Every geyser behaves differently, with intervals ranging from minutes to decades, and many are erratic.

Scientists study geysers using tools like infrared cameras, temperature and pressure monitors, and tilt leaders and seismometers which measure movement of the Earth caused by steam and water underground.

In some cases, researchers have even been able to use heat-tolerant cameras to directly check out a geyser’s plumbing. Heat sources deep within the Earth cook the water that moves through these tunnels and cavities. But with so much pressure from water above, the deepest pools can get incredibly hot without boiling. When the pressure eventually starts to release, the water finally boils. The superheated water bursts into a jet of steam and liquid that erupts from the mouth of the geyser. But despite the name of Yellowstone’s star, no geyser is eternally faithful. Geysers can be influenced by rain, earthquakes, neighboring geysers and human harvesting of geothermal energy. Geysers can even die, never to erupt again.

Studying how geysers behave can help us understand similar gushing phenomena, both here on Earth and on faraway worlds, and help preserve the powerful spectacles for fans to enjoy.