Scientists baffled at sudden unusual activity of the Steamboat Geyser

Yellowstone’s Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world, had been erupting quite frequently this year. Scientists can’t explain why.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the latest eruption occurred at 4 a.m. It was the fifth time that the geyser had erupted this 2018.

For a number of years, it had been inactive. Its last eruption that was reported was in 2014.

This year, the Steamboat Geyser erupted on March 15th, April 19th, April 27th, May 4th, and the latest one was on May 13th.

The scientists admitted that they don’t have enough evidence to explain the geyser’s unusual activity.

Talking to CNN, Michael Poland of the USGS said, “It is a spectacular geyser. When it erupts, it generally has very big eruptions.”

Although, he pointed out that the recent eruptions are smaller than the ones that occurred in the past.

The eruptions in April released between 200 and 400 cubic meters of water each. It is about ten times the amount of water that was discharged by the eruptions from the famous Old Faithful geyser.

“Most geysers erupt infrequently, unlike Old Faithful, so Steamboat is not enigmatic in that regard. But Steamboat has a mystique about it because it is the tallest active geyser in the world. It gets attention because of this, and rightly so,” said Poland.

KTVB reported that scientists placed 28 seismographs around the Steamboat Geyser for them to get as much data as possible.

The geologists were also forced to put the public’s theories at rest when they expressed worry that the Yellowstone supervolcano was going to erupt, as shared by the Independent.

The officials revealed that the Steamboat had been having frequent eruptions in the 1960’s and early 1980’s as well.

They went on to clarify that there have been no signs of volcanic activity and the public should just enjoy viewing the “spectacular” eruptions from the geyser.

Poland also exclaimed that geyser eruptions are nothing to be feared about.