[Geysers] Yellowstone Report 6/10/2009

[Lynn Stephens]

THIS POST IS FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THIS LISTSERV AND IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED

FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING PUBLICATION IN THE SPUT.

 

I forgot to mention in yesterday's report that Dave Leeking saw Lone Pine on 6/9 at 0726, duration = 16 minutes.  He also saw a minor at 08:32ie.  He had seen Lone Pine empty at 1736 on 6/4, again at 1709 on 6/5, and 1340 on 6/6.  at 15:58 on 6/6 it looked to me like the crater was refilling and the water level was down about 6-8".  Since Craig Pass was closed until about 1 pm Sunday due to snow, no one went over on Sunday, and as far as I know, no one went over on Monday.

 

Dave tried for another eruption this morning, but he said it had already erupted before 04:32.  This afternoon at Great Fountain I heard a tour guide tell his group that the earthquake in Alaska had affected Old Faithful.  So, when Dave was talking about how it was too bad that the swarm of earthquakes over at the northern end of Lake Yellowstone hadn't stimulated any activity in the main West Thumb basin, I facetiously said, "Well maybe Lone Pine was stimulated into shorter, less variable intervals" since it appears, based on the limited number of observations we have, that intervals are shorter, and possibly have much less variability than they have had in recent years.

 

Last night (6/9) I was hoping for a double interval on Atomizer, but gave up at 21:15 after waiting over two hours after a 40 second minor.  I decided nothing was going to keep me from getting a triple interval this morning.  The sky was alternately broken clouds, dripping rain, and throwing frozen granules of sleet and hail on us, so I watched from the main highway.  After minors at 07:53, 09:36, 10:45, and 12:33, Atomizer finally had a "quick come-back" major at 12:39--triple interval that averaged 15h14m.  To date I have recorded a closed interval of 17h34m on the "long" side, and a double interval averaging 13h09m on the "short" side.  Average of two closed intervals, two double intervals and one triple interval--14h53m.  Of the seven major eruptions for which the preceding minor was observed, 4 have been "quick come-back" majors and 3 have not.  One of the double intervals (26h18m) almost certainly involved another "quick come-back" major.  The other (29h26m) almost certainly did not.  It is likely that the triple interval involved two majors that were not "quick come-back" majors.  (Maybe if I don't calculate the percentage of "quick comeback" majors, it won't jinx the analysis.)

 

Scott gave me an ie time for a Till major this morning.  I had a start at 15:23, 8h50m average over the past five intervals.

 

I missed Great Fountain's overflow while waiting for Atomizer, but I knew it was well covered--Jim S., Scott B., Jere B., Bill Warnock, and Allan Friedman were all there.  The mid-point of their prediction worked better than mine would have since they used 65-95 minutes.  I heard a lot of theories about Great Fountain's behavior patterns--Gemini delaying effect, White Dome/Cone impacts, various boiling stages, different names for the boil, different names for Great Fountain--so many variations from the gazers that I got lost.  I'll just report the one I heard from a visitor--"It's gonna go, the steam just started going straighter!"

 

Yesterday evening while I was watching Atomizer minors from the road, a large bison herd came north through the meadow along Iron Creek, then slowly crossed the road in front of me, moved into the meadow along the west side of the Firehole River and started grazing their way north toward Daisy.  Thankfully it was late enough in the evening that there was very little traffic, so none backed up to prevent my line of sight to Atomizer.

 

While I was waiting for Till this afternoon a raven landed on the hood of my pickup, blocking my line of sight to Till.  It hopped around several times, cocking its head at me like it was saying, "Why aren't you feeding me?" then flew away.  A teenage girl was walking from the steel bridge toward the family vehicle with her parents.  She was gesticulating a story, with a sandwhich in her right hand.  The raven dive-bombed her with Hitchcokian fury, attempting to snatch the sandwich.  She ducked behind her father as she screeched in fear.  Her father used his walking stick to inform the raven that it was not to come near his family again.

 

Ralph may also post a note, but I sent the 2009 OFVC logbook through May 31 to him this morning, and he has already posted it on the GOSA website.  

 

Lynn Stephens

 

 

 

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