### New Steaming Vent Found in Yellowstone National Park
A new column of steam has been identified ascending from **Yellowstone National Park**, serving as a reminder of the area’s constantly shifting geothermal phenomena.
While there are currently no indications of an imminent volcanic eruption, the expansive magma chamber located beneath Yellowstone continues to energize geysers, hot springs, and various thermal features. In a recent [blog post](https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/yellowstone-where-theres-always-something-new), the **Yellowstone Volcano Observatory** announced the discovery of a new steaming vent, showcasing the park’s vibrant and changing landscape.
### An Unexpected Finding
On August 5, 2023, a park scientist making their way south from **Mammoth Hot Springs** towards **Norris Geyser Basin** spotted a dense column of steam emerging through the trees. The scientist quickly informed the park’s geology team to examine whether this was a newly created geothermal feature.
It was indeed.
### A New Hydrothermal Feature
The steaming vent is situated at the base of an ancient **lava flow**, and geologists registered its temperature at **171 degrees Fahrenheit**. It may represent a newly established feature or a reactivation of a steaming vent initially observed in 2003.
Here’s a recent photo of the new vent, emitting steam into the atmosphere:
*The new hydrothermal vent in Yellowstone National Park, captured in August 2024.*
*Credit: Jefferson Hungerford / Yellowstone National Park*
### Seasonal Variations in Activity
At present, the vent remains active yet subdued, as water has accumulated in the opening during the winter season. However, with the onset of spring, it could become more vigorous once again.
“The activity from these features fluctuates over time — you might even say that some of them pick up steam! Sorry…we couldn’t help ourselves,” quipped Yellowstone geologists **Jefferson Hungerford** and **Kiernan Folz-Donahue** in their report.
### Yellowstone’s Volcanic Condition
Despite sporadic **small steam explosions**, Yellowstone is still considered a **low-risk volcanic area**. The park is renowned for its **thermal pools** and **geysers**, which serve as reminders of the tremendous forces beneath the crust.
The most recent volcanic eruption in Yellowstone took place **approximately 70,000 years ago**, and the majority of past eruptions have been **lava flows** rather than large-scale explosions. According to the **U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)**, should a similar eruption occur today, its impacts would likely be confined within the park.
### No Unexpected Eruptions
If magma were to ascend towards the surface again, scientists would have **decades or even centuries** of advance notice. The movement of magma would result in **strong earthquake swarms** and significant ground deformation, rendering an eruption highly foreseeable.
For now, the emergence of new steaming vents is merely part of Yellowstone’s natural geothermal cycle—an ever-evolving landscape molded by the Earth’s forces.