Yellowstone - Old Faithful
N 44° 27.568 W 110° 49.722
12T E 513627 N 4922921
Yellowstone - Old Faithful Web Cam
Waymark Code: WM609
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 01/13/2006
Views: 141
Geysers are dynamic and constantly evolving--and Old Faithful is no exception. They evolve in response to small, natural changes in their plumbing systems, water temperature, dissolved gas and mineral content of the thermal water, amount of water, amount of heat, changes in pressure, and other factors. Geysers are also affected by natural events in Yellowstone such as frequent earthquakes (over 1,000 a year).
Old Faithful is perhaps the most studied and predicted geyser. Mathematicians, statisticians, and dedicated observers have analyzed it for many years. For example, a direct relationship exists between the duration of Old Faithful's eruption and the length of the following interval. Short eruptions (around 2 minutes) lead to short intervals (about 65 minutes); long eruptions (4 minutes or so) lead to long intervals (about 94 minutes). During a short eruption, less water and heat are discharged; thus, they rebuild again in a short time. Longer eruptions mean more water and heat are discharged and they require more time to rebuild. As of August 2002, the average interval was 94 minutes.
Over time, the average interval between Old Faithful's eruptions increases, in part due to ongoing processes within its plumbing. Changes also result from earthquakes. Prior to the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake, centered 12 miles northwest of the park's west entrance, the interval between Old Faithful's eruptions averaged slightly more than one hour. Its intervals increased after that earthquake and again after the 1983 Borah Peak Earthquake, centered in Idaho. In 1998, an earthquake near Old Faithful lengthened the interval again; later, another swarm of earthquakes further increased intervals.
Facts about Old Faithful -
• Its eruption length and height, and time between eruptions varies from day to day and year to year
• As of March 2003, the eruption length ranges from 1.5 to 5 minutes; the average interval between eruptions is 94 minutes
• Old Faithful's height ranges from 106 feet to more than 180 feet, averaging 130 feet
• Its average eruption length, height and interval will change again--often as a result of an earthquake
• 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of water are expelled per eruption, depending on the length of eruption
• Just prior to eruption, water temperature at the vent is 204° F / 95.6° C
• It's on the more than 300 geysers in Yellowstone
• Old Faithful is a cone geyser, which erupts in a narrow jet of water, usually from a cone. Fountain geysers, such as Grand (also in the Upper Geyser Basin), generally shoot water in various directions, most often from a pool
To log this waymark, you will need a friend. Have your friend go to the above link. Have your friend get a picture of you standing at the geyser holding your GPS. Any "virtual" visits will be deleted.
If the web cam is not working, just post a picture of you standing at the geyser holding your GPS.
Public or Private?: Private
Web Site URL: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
Updated October 3, 2011:
Your log needs to include a picture taken from the web camera with you in the field of vision. You may need to recruit some help from someone else on a computer while you are at the web camera.