Recent observations on Yellowstone for serious magmatards

What I'm noticing is that a lot more people are having to blame things on snow, wind, cars or animals at yellowstone in relation to the seismographs than I have seen in awhile.

If the magma is a few kilometers below the surface, what particular magnitude of EQ should we be worried about? 5.0s around the caldera?

I also thought this article was quite interesting:

"No Such Thing as a Dormant Volcano? Magma Chambers Awake Sooner Than Thought"

[link to www.sciencedaily.com]

~~~~CUT

"However, according to the mathematical model developed by Burgisser and his US colleague, reheating takes place in three stages. When fresh hot magma rises from below and arrives beneath the chamber, it melts the viscous magma at the base of the reservoir. This freshly molten magma therefore becomes less dense and starts to rise through the chamber, forcing the rest of the viscous mush to mix. It is this mixing process that enables the heat to spread through the chamber a hundred times faster than volcanologists had predicted. Depending on the size of the chamber and the viscosity of the magma it contains, a few months may be sufficient to rekindle its activity."
[link to www.sciencedaily.com]


100's of times faster than they thought?? Most science types claim to know everything.

Z

We talk about fearsome past of Yellowstone and wonder about its future, but the natural beauty of the place is amazing and undeniable.

I invite all of you to take a little break from winter and join me on this armchair tour showcasing the majestic beauty of America’s first national park:


[link to www.youtube.com]

[link to www.youtube.com]

~~~~CUT

"However, according to the mathematical model developed by Burgisser and his US colleague, reheating takes place in three stages. When fresh hot magma rises from below and arrives beneath the chamber, it melts the viscous magma at the base of the reservoir. This freshly molten magma therefore becomes less dense and starts to rise through the chamber, forcing the rest of the viscous mush to mix. It is this mixing process that enables the heat to spread through the chamber a hundred times faster than volcanologists had predicted. Depending on the size of the chamber and the viscosity of the magma it contains, a few months may be sufficient to rekindle its activity."
[link to www.sciencedaily.com]


100's of times faster than they thought?? Most science types claim to know everything.

Z

I usually manage to take a bit of time off, and get to the park every year or so, and it is always time very well spent. Yellowstone is amazing, and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t “blow” in our lifetimes. That being said, I don’t believe in “sticking heads in the sand” when unusual activity occurs either. There is just so much that we don’t fully understand about this unique and fascinating place.

I am glad you enjoyed the break from “GLP doom”.

(I find that such breaks are very necessary.)

PS…If you can work it out, visiting just before school summer vacation (the end of May through the end of August) or just afterwards in September are better times to visit, as the Park is less crowded. This is my favorite place to stay in the park (a bit pricey, but very nice), although we usually camp which is wonderful also:
[link to www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com]

I love camping, but sometimes a bit of luxury is nice as well.

pelican cone
30769.23 microvolts

[link to www.isthisthingon.org]

[link to www.nps.gov]


steam breathings likie have not seen in a while,
take the look exactly at the middle of the cam, than lover a little where you can see the snow gone

the steam is steaming to the right, but with extreme speeds.

not its quite, if you like take a look

I haven't had time to post until now, but Princess Bride is correct!

Something very strange seems to be going on at Norris.

When the increase amplitude pattern was going on, the sensor was set at 1066.67 microvolts. This setting is the only one that I have ever observed on the Norris sensor.

[link to www.isthisthingon.org]

[link to www.seis.utah.edu]


Then all of a sudden, Norris appeared to quiet down, but the microvolt setting became unreadable.

[link to www.isthisthingon.org]

[link to www.seis.utah.edu]




Today, Norris looks quiet, but the microvolt setting is 10,000.

[link to www.isthisthingon.org]



[link to www.seis.utah.edu]





The standard microvolt setting is usually 1600 (from what I've seen anyway). Madison is at 125 and YPP is at 500 microvolts. Low microvolts mean that the sensor is very sensitive to small changes, like at Madison. High microvolt settings mean that the sensor is less sensitive. The larger the number, the less sensitive the seismograph becomes.

Apparently this is not the first time that such changes have been made. In January 2009 the LKWY sensor was at 500 mv, and in then in October of the same year it was showing 8,000 mv. (I have a link for this information, but the screen shots are on another forum, so I don't know if its ok to post the link.)

We all would have become suspicions if the Norris sensor had just been shut off, but turning it into a range where activity becomes almost undetectable might seem to be an attempt to camouflage this recent activity.

I couldn't find the exact range, that volcanic tremor is usually monitored, but in this paper from New Zealand during February 18, 1966, looking at "Volcanic prediction using slow motion tape recorders suitably situated near a volcano, produce good correlations when frequency analysis techniques are used with total energy from semi-continuous tremors, apparent explosions determined to disregard tectonic events". the range used was "40 and 400 microvolts fed into the tape seismograph input".

[link to webcache.googleusercontent.com]

In this paper USGS paper from the Hawaiian volcanic observatory, "Individual CAL factors for Type 1 seismographs are Develocorder-equivalent peak-to-peak amplitudes, measured in millimeters, of a 100-microvolt 5- to 8-Hz signal introduced to the preamp/VCO in place of the geophone at the field station."

[link to pubs.usgs.gov]

Also from the HVO:"' The curve plots the unit response, which is multiplied by a constant but known factor, CAL, to get the response for an individual station. Individual CAL factors for Type 1 seismographs are Develocorder equivalent peak-to-peak amplitudes, measured in millimeters, of a 100-microvolt 5 to 8- Hz signal introduced to the preamp/VCO in place of the geophone at the field station."

[link to pubs.usgs.gov]
H
According to this paper the USGS performs testing on seismographs for calibration of "1, 10, 100, and 1,000 microvolts."

[link to www.iris.edu]


Why then would the USGS change the sensor into a range where activity ( especially volcanic tremor) is almost undetectable when the sensor is acting up. Shouldn't they be following this more closely and want more detail? Why turn it way up to 10,000? Maybe turning it up a little will help sort out the blotches of color, but at 10,000 activity must be really major to register. Perhaps the real goal is to lure the public into thinking that the activity of the Norris sensor is resolved, when appears to be anything but resolved.

Ok, ok I'll get off my soap box now.

Kudos to you Princess Bride,

and everyone remember, save those screenshots

nice to see you around again Emerald...

I know its probably a stretch but could this be related....

[link to press.web.cern.ch]