Scientists uncover huge underground reservoir beneath Yellowstone’s Old Faithful

Old Faithful Geyser EruptionPhoto: Canva Old Faithful may be the world’s most famous geyser, but until recently, no one had a clear picture of the “plumbing” that powers its eruptions. In a landmark 2017 studytitled 'Anatomy of Old Faithful From Subsurface Seismic Imaging of the Yellowstone Upper Geyser Basin', University of Utah scientists deployed 133 small, portable seismometers around Old Faithful and nearby Geyser Hill for two weeks, listening to the faint hum of the ground between eruptions. By turning everyday micro-vibrations, caused by wind, water, tourists, and the geyser’s own boiling, into a usable signal, the team mapped a hidden reservouir of hot water beneath the surface. Their analysis suggests the reservoir can hold roughly 300,000 cubic meters of water, or about 79 million gallons. Based on the reportings from the University of Utah and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, here's more details about the discovery:Why Old Faithful’s underground system was a mysteryOld Faithful erupts like clockwork every 44 to 125 minutes, drawing millions of visitors to Yellowstone National Park each year. Yet despite its fame, the near-surface geology and ...