Yellowstone Hydrothermal Explosion Captured on Video

A hydrothermal explosion at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park sent plumes of mud and water surging up to 40 feet into the air on the morning of December 20, captured clearly on video by monitoring equipment under bright blue skies and snowy surroundings.

The eruption occurred just before 9:23 a.m. in the Biscuit Basin area, about two miles north of the Old Faithful geyser and midway between it and the Grand Prismatic Spring. Officials with the U.S. Geological Survey described the event as a typical "dirty" explosion, involving boiling water, mud and debris propelled from the superheated pool. No injuries were reported, as the Biscuit Basin has remained closed to visitors since a larger blast in July 2024 damaged boardwalks and infrastructure.

That earlier incident hurled rocks and mud hundreds of feet high, forcing visitors to flee and prompting the indefinite closure of the area to protect against potential hazards. Since then, the pool has experienced sporadic smaller eruptions, reaching heights of 30 to 40 feet, though many went unseen. Previous events happened at night or when camera lenses were obscured by ice or snow, leaving researchers to rely on seismic...