[Geysers] Morning 1978, 1981-1983

[Lynn Stephens]

THIS POST IS FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF THE READERS OF THIS LISTSERV AND IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED, DUPLICATED, ORPUBLISHED, INCLUDING PUBLICATION IN THE SPUT OR TRANSACTIONS I went back to check my original copy of Whittlesey's Wonderland Nomenclature from Montana Historical Society.  The statements that Morning was active in 1974 and 1978 were NOT typographical errors that were made in the copy that GOSA is now selling.  Page 1140 says "It [Morning] was active 1952-1959, 1974, 1978, and 1981-83." In my article in Transactions III about Morning Geyser, I noted that activity in 1974 listed in Bryan (1991) and Whittlesey (1988) probably should have referred to activity in 1973.  I've found no substantiation for activity of Morning Geyser in 1974.  However, as already posted, Hutchinson and Martinez both reported on activity in 1973.  Heinrich Koenig identified 18 eruptions of Morning recorded in the 1973 OFVC logbooks.  Rocco Paperiello added a 19th eruption (May 24). Hutchinson ("Geologic and Thermal Highlights of Yellowstone, 1978-79") reported on Morning's 1978 activity "This spectacular fountain geyser rejuvenated for the second time since the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake on or about August 19, 1978.  President Jimmy Carter and his family missed it by less than 90 minutes on August 26th because of fishing and politics.  The active phase for Morning Geyser lasted only about one month."  When MaryBeth Schwarz and Marion Powell were transcribing logbooks, the months of August and September 1978 were not available, so we don't have logbook information on the activity.  Also, the only copy I have of Rick's 1978 and 1979 reports were copies of the 1977 report listing "Geysers Active", with handwritten corrections on geysers he wanted deleted and/or added. I also have a copy of his 1980-1982 "Geological and Thermal Highlights" report with his comments about Morning Geyser: "Massive displays up to 40m high from one of the Park's most powerful and spectacular geysers began on August 23, 1981, after three years of dormancy and ended on September 2nd, when Fountain Geyser took over.  the late George marler in his Inventory wrote that Morning Geyser could also be named 'Summer Geyser', as it rarely erupted during any of the other seasons.  for two or three weeks in late January and early February of this year, Morning (or is it 'Winter Geyser?') had a number of major eruptions witnessed by the snow coach drivers and passengers!  During early May, minor eruptive displays were seen from its parasitic northern vents."  Presumably the "parasitic northern vents" are what we are now calling Morning's Thief, although Paul Strasser, Grover Cleveland, or Rocco Papperiello or ???? may have other information.  I don't have a copy of Rick's 1981 annual report, but Heinrich Koenig extracted information on Morning Geyser (among others) from the 1981 logbook and identified 82 eruptions for 1981.   I have a copy of Rick's 1982 annual report, which contained an analysis of Jet and Jelly Geysers, as well as a long section on Morning, and a long section on Fountain.  I'm going to include only part of the information here: "[Morning] was active during four major periods this year.  they were a 2 to 3 week period during late January and early February; from 2044 MDT on June 16 until the early hours of July 15; from 1345MDT on July 28 for approximately 2-1/2 days; and from 0448 MDT on August 19 until the last observed eruption of the year ended at 0932 MDT on August 27....At the peak of Morning's rejuvenations there would typically be one or two eruptions in a 24 hour period." "The exchange of function or energy shifts between Morning and Fountain Geysers was quite distinct this year.  Fountain was generally active but with undetermined intervals or durations from early February to at least May 26, from 2043 MDT on July 15 to about July 28, then somewhat intermittently until August 19, and for much of the remainder of the year after 2258 MDT on August 27." It appears that Fountain was dormant during Morning's first period of activity in late January and early February, active while Morning was dormant from mid-February until July 15, active during Morning's next period of dormancy from July 28 through August 19, dormant again while Morning was active from august 19 through August 27, then rejuvenated when Morning went dormant again. Heinrich Koenig found 44 eruptions or Morning Geyser listed in the 1982 OFVC logbooks. I do not have Rick's 1983 report.  However, only one eruption (February 10) was listed in the 1983 logbooks.  The eruption was accompanied by a notation "probably delayed response to tremors on Sunday 02/06/83." As I noted in my article about Morning Geyser in Transactions III, the activity in 1991 was record breaking with 5 known dual eruptions of Fountain and Morning, 118 "verifiable solo eruptions in August" plus 5 observed solo eruptions in May. I THINK I have copies of all of Rick's annual reports that were in the HRC, both in the open files and in the boxes in the archives.  As someone said, maybe there are copies of other years out there somewhere.  For example, I have 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977 (partial), 1982, but am missing 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1983.  Lynn Stephens   		 	   		  
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