[Geysers] Record of wild phase activity (Stephens)

[Lynn Stephens]

Scott asked:  Question: is there a list (whether complete or not) of when wild phase has been observed?

Here's a list I developed by looking at the electronic records and the OFVC logbooks.  Potential wild phase activity was identified by looking for a short interval--less than 6 hours followed by a long interval--more than 100 hours in the electronic record.  Some periods that met this criteria were determined not to be wild phase activity because of reports of "regular" eruptions in the OFVC logbook.  One period was reported in the OFVC logbook where the electronic record was not available.  Electronic monitoring records were available from 1999 through present on the GOSA website.  OFVC logbooks were available from 1995 through late 2007 on the GOSA website.  I also reviewed editions of The Sput from 1988 through 1994.

2007   none identified

2006  10/14 and 10/15 in wild phase; next reported eruption 10/19 per OFVC logbook; electronic record not available from 9/28/06 to 12/31/06

2005   none reported in either source; electronic record not availalbe 11/02/05 to 7/12/05

2004  none reported in either source
            (Note:  there was a gap from 1/2 to 1/23 in the electronic record; visual "ie" observations were reported in the OFVC logbook were reported between 1/2 and 1/23, which indicated this was a lack of electronic record rather than wild phase.)

2003   10/29 5:03 interval followed by 134 hour interval with next eruption on 11/03; confirmed by logbook with comments such as "Great Fountain has not
              erupted for a few days"

2002    12/16 4:15 interval, followed by 12/17 6:05 interval then 12/23 150:45 interval; The only report in the OFVC logbook during this time was an ievr on 12/18.

2001    11/22 2:25 interval followed by 2:40 interval; next eruption 11/28 150:00 interval; no data in OFVC logbook during this period.
             (Note there were two periods in June where the electronic monitor recorded intervals exceeding 100 hours, but visual observations recorded in the 
             OFVC logbook showed regular, normal eruptions for the days involved in the long intervals.)

2000    2/12 3:47 interval next eruption 2/18 136:32 interval; no reports in OFVC logbook during this period
  
           9/21 4:18 interval; next eruption 9/26 125:08 interval; logbook confirmation 9/21 start wild phase and 9/26 first eruption

1999     9/25 3:53 interval 9/29 102:37 interval; confirmed in logbook with wild phase start on 9/25; end 9/27 first eruption 9/29

End of electronic monitoring data posted on the GOSA website.

1998   no reports in OFVC logbook

1997   1/23/97 possible wild phase per Rick H., 1/24 13:20ie,  1/27 14:53ns

1996   10/19 11:47ie, ~18:30ie probable wild phase,   10/20 wild phase confirmed; 10/23 first since wild phase between 15:30 on 10/22 and 
13:00 on 10/23

1995    no reports in OFVC logbook

End of electronic version of OFVC logbook

Review of "The Sput"

1994    6/13 entered wild phase; ended 6/16 next eruption 6/20
                  
The article references "last observed" wild phase in late September 1986, beginning on 9/24 lasting ~26 hours; "The dry period before the first overflow was 1day8hours in 1986; first eruption started about 24 hours after oerflow began, but notes that records are not available for November through May for those years.

I did not find any other references to wild phase activity from Great Fountain in any prior editions of the Sput.

Tomas Vachuda's article in Volume I of The Transactions:

     "With extremely few exceptions, one can expect to obvserve the same elements repeated between each eruption.  Two of these anomalies, defined in [Marler, 1973], are periods of long overflow, and low ebb.  Another irregularity, [Bryan, 1986] is known as the wild phase.  A long overflow can last as long as two days, while during periods of low ebb the water remains well below the rim for several days.  During a wild phase Great Fountain erupts continuously, though with much diministed strength, for hours or days.  The normal eruptive pattern is reinstated within a day of the conclusion of one of these irregularities.  In most recent years, no occurrences of these irregularities have been recorded."

      Note that Marler identified "periods of long overflow," but I couldn't find anything where Marler described activity comparable to "wild phase" activity in the Inventory.

Other sources that might identify periods of "wild phase activity"--

     Sam Martinez had a monitor on Great Fountain for many years.  His notebooks might identify periods of wild phase activity.
     Volunteer reports prepared by Sam, Bob Hoffman, and/or Herb Warren
     Rick Hutchinson's annual reports 
     OFVC logbooks prior to 1995
     
      The OFVC logbooks should be available in the archives.  (If I can make copies of the logbooks, I'll start transcribing the 1994 logbook this summer.)  It is possible that some of Rick's reports and some of the volunteer reports are also available in the archives.  

Lynn



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