[Geysers] February Sput (Stephens)

[Pat Snyder]

Hi Everyone.
I am hoping to do what Lynn suggested below with the SIlver Globe  
Geyser Group on one of my trips this year. I am excited about doing  
my first report on a geyser group, although I may need some  
assistance. I will also be able to include photographs and hopefully  
make a drawing of the group (I believe the boardwalk has been moved  
since the Transactions I article on the Silver Globe Group, which I  
have, thanks to Lynn).

Any suggestions for the following would be really helpful:
1. Tips for collecting data-- for example, I noticed that in some  
Gazers' data books, they have abbreviations, which makes it easier  
and quicker to write down times. I think things happen quickly at the  
Silver Globes (from my unofficial observations) as the functions  
change between each one.
2. How long should I stay to get a good picture of what's going on  
there? I am not sure I can dedicate an entire day--Lynn, you say "a  
few hours". would three hours be about right? Less? More?
3. Should I watch nearby geysers, too, such as Jewel? Or just  
concentrate on the ones I am writing about? There's a nice view of  
the Old Road Group from there, I do plan to bring my binoculars!
4. Anything else? I do plan to have a couple of seasoned Gazers read  
through the article before publication.

Thanks!
Pat S.


On Feb 26, 2006, at 3:54 PM, lynn stephens wrote:
>
> I think there are a number of "facts without proof" or even "facts  
> that were proven long ago and need to be retested" about many  
> geysers.  Geyser behavior changes (which is what keeps most of us  
> interested).  Hopefully some of you will make a few observations of  
> your own,  maybe supplement them with data from the OFVC logbook or  
> compare them to results that other people have reported in The Sput  
> or elsewhere, and report your results either confirming that an  
> accepted fact remains true, develop a new "fact", or sugges that  
> there's been a change that no one else has mentioned.  You don't  
> have to collect data for several weeks or months--depending on the  
> geyser, a few hours or so might be sufficient.  For example, it's  
> been a few summers since I spent the day at Lone Star to get three  
> closed intervals from major to major.  "We" think it's still  
> erupting at about 3 hours from major to major, based on visitor  
> reports, etc., but has anyone tested that assumption recently.  Or,  
> how
>  many minor eruptions is it having from major to major?  You don't  
> have to write up a long article--just a few paragraphs reporting  
> your observations and maybe a bit of Lone Star's history.  On the  
> other hand, you could write up a "A Day in the Life of Lone  
> Star" (just don't use that title because I'm using "A Day in the  
> Life..." title for an upcoming article) that includes not just  
> geyser behavior, but also comments on wildlife, flowers, visitors-- 
> whatever.  Pack a lunch and a book, hike out early in the morning  
> so you can enjoy both early morning and late afternoon rainbows in  
> Lone Star's eruption.  Collect some "unknown fact"--for example,  
> from what distance can the steam phase be heard?  (Even if you hear  
> it on the way out in the morning, don't be discouraged that you  
> just missed the major.  At least you know you haven't missed a  
> minor so you can collect data on the number of minors before the  
> next major.)
>
> Hopefully this post will stimulate some ideas about projects some  
> of the people who can't spend a lot of time in Yellowstone can  
> undertake and write-up for either The Sput or The Transactions.
>
> Lynn Stephens (lstephens.eagle at sisna.com)
>
>
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