The hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone National Park sent steam and debris to a height of hundreds of feet above the ground, destroyed a nearby boardwalk and ejected grapefruit-sized rocks tens to hundreds of feet from the source. What happened here?
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Transcript: What happened? This is a hydrothermal explosion where underground water heated by earth’s thermal field and is near boiling point is rapidly converted to steam. This conversion happens when there is a sudden drop of pressure in the area. This causes an explosive release of energy. The rapid conversion to steam causes the ground to erupt because water gas molecules expand more than liquid water. When you’re in a confined space with an explosive amount of energy, an eruption occurs. Eruptions in Yellowstone are relatively common due to it being a volcanic hotspot. A Hydrothermal eruption does not predict a volcanic eruption. Fun fact, hydrothermal eruptions are more common than lava or volcanic ash explosions. There is no lava rising during a hydrothermal eruption.
