[Geysers] Brief Geyser Report

[Lynn Stephens]

THIS REPORT IS FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF THE READERS OF THIS LISTSERV AND IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING PUBLICATION IN THE SPUT.
 
I was in Yellowstone from 8/24 through noon today.  I haven't crunched exact numbers yet, but here are a few brief comments on some of the geysers I watch and where there aren't other reports--
 
Atomizer major to major intervals ranged from about 17 1/2 hours to almost 22 hours.  Again, duration of the water phase of majors does not appear to have increased.
Till's interval major to major in May/June was about 9 hours; this trip it was about 10 hours.
I only got two or three Flood intervals of 30-40 minutes; Julie and KC Thomson got an interval of about 55 minutes.
Lemon Spring has gotten progressively hotter over the summer, but I never saw it below overflow.
Gemini was active one afternoon.  All other times I drove by the area surrounding the left (north) vent was full of water and the right vent was merrily bubbling away.
Pink Cone intervals about 22 to 26 hours.  Durations do not appear to have increased.
 
I watched a new geyser in Tangled Creek over the two week period, which I called "Spire" because it looks like a slightly larger Pyramid or Uncertain.  Durations were 5-7 minutes; intervals 35-55 minutes.  I asked Bill Lewis and Sam Holbrook and both of them indicated they had never seen anything like it while they were stationed in the Lower Basin in the 60's and 70's and did mapping in the Tangled Creek Area.  Rocco Paperiello said it seems possible it is in the vicinity of a feature Sam called "Tonsil Geyser" on his map of the Tangled Creek vents, but the description of activity does not match anything Sam observed.
 
The weather was great during my two week stay, which was nice since I was camped at Madison Campground.  This will be one of the few times I have left Yellowstone in September without having seen snow, but then again, I saw plenty of snow on my May/June trip.  I was worried I might also have to leave without hearing an elk bugle.  (The weather has been so warm that most of the elk and bison are still in the"high" country--nice for driving without bison jams.)  However, my going away present this morning while I was waiting for the first minor after the end of a Till major was the sound of an elk bugling.
 
Lynn Stephens
  		 	   		  
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