A new website devoted to Yellowstone geologic data has just been launched by YVO coordinating scientist Bob Smith and University of Utah graduate student Jamie Farrell, with support from the National Science Foundation's GEON program. The site provides a variety of maps, figures and GIS (geographic information system) datasets of interest to both scientists and the general public.

The June 2005 issue of Geotimes magazine includes an article by YVO Scientist-in-Charge Jake Lowenstern. The article, Truth, fiction and everything in between at Yellowstone, presents Lowenstern's views on public and media interest in Yellowstone and its volcanic potential.

On April 29, 2005, The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released the first ever comprehensive and systematic review of all 169 volcanoes in the United States. The report, An Assessment of Volcanic Threat and Monitoring Capabilities in the United States: Framework for a National Volcano Early Warning System, establishes a framework for a National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS), "which calls for a 24-hour seven-day-a-week Volcano Watch Office and enhanced instrumentation and monitoring at targeted volcanoes". Each of the 169 volcanoes were divided into five threat groups: Very High, High, Moderate, Low, and Very Low. The USGS press release on NVEWS summarizes the 37 volcanoes in the Very High threat group and mentions an additional 21 under-monitored volcanoes. Yellowstone is one of the 21 under-monitored volcanoes in the High threat group. This does not mean that the geologic conditions at Yellowstone have changed. The activity at Yellowstone remains consistent with historical levels.

BBC and the Discovery Channel produced a new docudrama and documentary about Yellowstone. For more information on the docudrama and documentary see our docudrama question and answer page.

Yellowstone has experienced several giant volcanic eruptions in the past few million years, as well as many smaller eruptions and steam explosions. To improve our understanding of the volcanic, seismic, and hydrothermal hazards, scientists study and monitor activity at Yellowstone. Check out our new fact sheet that describes Yellowstone's past and potential future activity.

In April 2004 there was an increase in earthquake activity, called a swarm, at Yellowstone National Park that drew interest from scientists and the public. Swarms can occur on volcanoes or in tectonically active areas. There have been many swarms recorded over the past 40 years at Yellowstone. For more information see the Earthquake Swarms at Yellowstone article.

Over the past ten years scientists have been applying new satellite-based surveying techniques to monitor changes in the land surface elevation within Yellowstone Caldera. These new measurements add to monitoring data collected over the past 25 years and help increase our understanding of the slow up and down ground movements of the Yellowstone caldera above the subterranean magma and hydrothermal systems. For more information see the Tracking Changes in Yellowstone's Restless Volcanic System fact sheet.

On August 2, 2004, a new boardwalk opened in the Norris Geyser Basin. The new route reopened access through the Back Basin area. Read the National Park Service News Release.

On March 10, 2004, Yellowstone Park biologists discovered 5 dead bison along the Gibbon River near Norris geyser basin. The bison appeared to have died about one week earlier due to inhalation of toxic geothermal gases. The gases, most probably CO₂ and/or H₂S, likely accumulated in a low area due to very cold windless conditions. Though such events are rare, over the Park's 132-year history similar animal kills have occurred several times. Visitors can safely view Yellowstone's thermal areas by staying on designated trails and boardwalks. For more information please see the Yellowstone National Park press release.

In 2003, articles in the press reported a "bulge" beneathYellowstone Lake that generated some concern about possible dangers for residents or visitors to the area. Click herefor answers to some of the questions we were asked by the public and press.

There were were notable changes in thermal activity at Norris Geyser Basin in 2003. These changesresulted in the closure of the Back Basin Trail and temporarydeployment of a monitoring network by YVO. Learn more.

On October 9, 2003, portions of Norris Geyser Basin reopened to the public. Read the National Park ServiceNews Release.