A newly-installed webcam captured a hydrothermal eruption at Yellowstone National Park, less than a year after a sizeable explosion destroyed the same area.
The webcam captured a small eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin − just north of Old Faithful − at 8:39 p.m. MDT on May 31, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The webcam was installed on May 14 as a way to track hydrothermal activity at Black Diamond Pool following a dangerously large explosion at the site in July 2024. Though the May 31 eruption is the only one caught on official video, the USGS has received several reports of other sporadic eruptions over the past year.
"It is likely that these small eruptions are a result of the hydrothermal plumbing system for the pool adjusting after the major disruption of the larger explosion last summer," USGS Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland told USA TODAY.
A hydrothermal explosion occurs when hot water in a volcano system turns into steam in a confined area. A sudden drop in pressure causes rapid expansion of the high-temperature fluids and a crater-forming eruption.
