Dissolved gases in hydrothermal (phreatic) and geyser eruptions at Yellowstone National Park, USA

A study on dissolved gases in Yellowstone National Park's hydrothermal and geyser eruptions reveals that carbon dioxide (CO2) from magma and nitrogen (N2) from air-saturated meteoric water significantly lower the near-surface saturation temperature of aqueous fluids. This modulation enhances the explosivity potential of phreatic eruptions and influences geyser dynamics. Researchers collected pressurized samples from research well Y-7 and thermal pools in the Upper Geyser Basin, analyzing gas concentrations and temperatures at depth. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that high concentrations of these gases can trigger hydrothermal eruptions when recharged into shallow reservoirs. Monitoring changes in gas emission rates and composition could provide critical insights into both the natural resources (geysers) and potential hazards (eruptions) in such areas.

Hurwitz, S., Clor, L. E., McCleskey, R. B., Nordstrom, D. K., Hunt, A. G., & Evans, W. C. (2016). Dissolved gases in hydrothermal (phreatic) and geyser eruptions at Yellowstone National Park, USA. Geology, 44(3), 235–238. https://doi.org/10.1130/g37478.1