Yellowstone Region Press Releases
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: December 29, 2008 05:00 PM MST
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a notable swarm of earthquakes has been underway since December 26 beneath Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, three to six miles south-southeast of Fishing Bridge, Wyoming. This energetic sequence of events was most intense on December 27, when the largest number of events of magnitude 3 and larger occurred.
The largest of the earthquakes was a magnitude 3.9 (revised from magnitude 3.8) at 10:15 pm MST on Dec. 27. The sequence has included nine events of magnitude 3 to 3.9 and approximately 24 of magnitude 2 to 3 at the time of this release. A total of more than 250 events large enough to be located have occurred in this swarm. Reliable depths of the larger events are up to a few miles. Visitors and National Park Service (NPS) employees in the Yellowstone Lake area reported feeling the largest of these earthquakes.
Earthquakes are a common occurrence in the Yellowstone National Park area, an active volcanic-tectonic area averaging 1,000 to 2,000 earthquakes a year. Yellowstone's 10,000 geysers and hot springs are the result of this geologic activity. A summary of the Yellowstone's volcanic history is available on the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory web site (listed below). This December 2008 earthquake sequence is the most intense in this area for some years and is centered on the east side of the Yellowstone caldera. Scientists cannot identify any causative fault or other feature without further analysis. Seismologists continue to monitor and analyze the data and will issue new information if the situation warrants it.
The University of Utah operates a seismic network in Yellowstone National Park in conjunction with the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These three institutions are partners in the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Data are transmitted to the University in real-time by radio and satellite links from a network of 28 seismographs in the Yellowstone area and are available on the web. Seismologists continue to analyze data from this swarm of earthquakes and provide updates to the NPS and USGS and to the public via the following web pages.
Information on U.S. earthquake activity including Yellowstone can be viewed at the U.S. Geological Survey web site: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/
Information on earthquakes can also be viewed at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations: http://www.seis.utah.edu/.
Seismographic recordings from Yellowstone seismograph stations can be viewed online at: http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html.
Persons who felt any of the earthquakes are encouraged to fill out a survey form on the USGS "Did You Feel It?" web site: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/.
Geologic information, maps, and monitoring information, for Yellowstone can be found on the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory web site at: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: December 27, 2008 04:40 PM MST
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a swarm of small earthquakes of magnitude 3.5 and smaller is occurring beneath Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, five to nine miles south-southeast of Fishing Bridge, Wyoming. The swarm began yesterday afternoon, Dec. 26, and has continued and intensified today. The two largest earthquakes in this swarm have been shocks of magnitude 3.5 and 3.4 which occurred at 1:17 and 1:26 pm MST, respectively, today. Many smaller earthquakes have also occurred, including three events this morning of magnitude 2.5 to 2.8 and a magnitude 3.2 event at 3:30 pm MST. Some of the earthquakes in the swarm have been reported felt by people in the Yellowstone Lake area. Swarms of this nature are relatively common in this part of Yellowstone Park.
Information on the earthquake can be viewed at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations: http://www.seis.utah.edu/.
Recordings from a nearby Yellowstone seismograph station can be viewed online at: http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: March 25, 2008 07:25 AM MDT
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a light earthquake of magnitude 4.1 occurred at 05:59 AM on March 25, 2008 (MDT) in Yellowstone National Park. The epicenter of the shock was located 19 miles NE of Fishing Bridge, WY. Two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater have occurred within 16 mi of the epicenter of this event since 1962. The largest of these events was a magnitude 3.5 on July 20, 1992, 4.0 mi NE of Fishing Bridge, WY. This event has been reported felt in Pahaska Tepee, outside the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park and in southwest Montana as well as in western Wyoming.
The location of the earthquake has been analyzed by a seismologist.
Persons who felt the earthquake are encouraged to fill out a survey form on the USGS Community Felt reports web site: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/imw/STORE/X13060_08/ciim_display.html.
Information on the earthquake can be viewed at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations: http://www.seis.utah.edu/.
Recordings from a nearby Yellowstone seismograph station can be viewed online at: http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: January 09, 2008 04:00 PM MST
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports a minor earthquake of magnitude 3.7 occurred at 02:37 PM on January 09, 2007 (MST) in Yellowstone National Park. The epicenter of the shock was located 11 miles NW of Madison Junction, WY and 12 miles northeast of West Yellowstone, MT. This event was preceded by two magnitude 2.9 earthquakes at 01:25 pm and 01:48 pm (MST) and is part of an ongoing sequence of earthquakes primarily of magnitudes less than 2.0 that began with the 01:25 PM event. A magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred in the same location on December 30, 2007.
At this time we consider the earthquakes in this series typical for a tectonic-fault related sequence and not an indication of volcanic activity but ongoing analyses will evaluate these different sources.
Persons who felt the earthquake are encouraged to fill out a survey form on the USGS Community Felt reports web site: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/imw/.
Information on the earthquake can be viewed at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations: http://www.seis.utah.edu/.
Recordings from a nearby Yellowstone seismograph station can be viewed online at: http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: December 30, 2007 09:22 PM MST
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a minor earthquake of magnitude 3.6 occurred at 08:29 PM on December 30, 2007 (MST) in Yellowstone National Park. The epicenter of the shock was located 11 miles NW of Madison Junction, WY and 12 miles northeast of West Yellowstone, MT. As of the time of this press release there have been 13 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 0.5 to 2.4. These earthquakes are considered typical for a tectonic-fault related sequence and are not an indication of volcanic activity. A total of 28 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater have occurred within 25 km of the epicenter of this area of western Yellowstone National Park since 1962. The largest of these events was a magnitude 4.2 on November 23, 2000, 2 miles NNW of Norris Junction, WY.
Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to fill out a survey form on the USGS Community Felt reports web site: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/imw/.
Information on the earthquake can be viewed at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations: http://www.seis.utah.edu/. Recordings from a nearby Yellowstone seismograph station can be viewed online at: http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: August 21, 2003 1:46 AM MDT
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred at 01:46 a.m. (MDT) on Thursday, August 21. The epicenter of the shock was located near Huckleberry Mountain in Wyoming, 8 miles southeast of the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The earthquake was reported felt in Yellowstone National Park at the south entrance and at Grant Village. It occurred in an area of relatively low seismicity.
Those who felt the quake are encouraged to fill out a survey form on the Seismograph Stations web site: www.quake.utah.edu.
Please click here for a link to "Did you feel it?" The Community Internet Intensity Survey.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Alaska Quake Seems to Trigger Yellowstone Jolts Small Tremors Rattle National Park After Big Quake 2,000 Miles Away
Released November 04, 2002
November 4, 2002 -- A major, magnitude-7.9 earthquake that rocked Alaska on Sunday apparently triggered scores of earthquakes some 2,000 miles away at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
By 8:30 a.m. MST Monday Nov. 4 - about 17 hours after the Alaskan quake - more than 200 small earthquakes had been detected occurring in clusters throughout the Yellowstone area. The quakes were recorded by the Yellowstone seismic network operated by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations.
The smallest events were of magnitude less than 0 and the largest of about magnitude 2.5. National Park Service rangers at Old Faithful and Canyon Village reported feeling some of the earthquakes.
While the data are preliminary, they suggest that the Yellowstone earthquakes may have been triggered by the passage of large seismic waves generated by the Alaskan earthquake more than 3,200 kilometers (almost 2,000 miles) from the park. The apparent triggering is suggested by the fact the Yellowstone activity began within a half hour of the Alaska earthquake, which hit at 3:12 p.m. MST Nov. 3 (1:12 p.m. local time in Alaska).
There also are preliminary reports the Alaska quake may have triggered smaller tremors at The Geysers geothermal area in northern California.
Scientists once believed that an earthquake at one location could not trigger earthquakes at distant sites. But that belief was shattered in 1992 when the magnitude-7.3 Landers earthquake in California's Mojave Desert triggered a swarm of quakes more than 800 miles away at Yellowstone, as well as other jolts near Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and Yucca Mountain, Nev.
The apparent triggering of the Yellowstone tremors by the Alaska quake "confirms what we are beginning to see worldwide - that earthquakes can be triggered by other earthquakes at great distances, more so than we had thought before," said Robert. B. Smith, a University of Utah professor of geology and geophysics and coordinating scientist for the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Clusters of small earthquakes in time and space are common in Yellowstone. However, the clusters of Yellowstone earthquakes following the Alaskan mainshock extended across much of the park and were not concentrated in a single location.
The small Yellowstone quakes are not considered to pose a threat to the public, but are of great interest to scientists who want to confirm if they were triggered and understand how. Investigation is ongoing and may take some time to complete, said Sue Nava, seismograph network manager at the University of Utah Seismograph Stations.
There has been some suggestion that seismic waves from a large, distant quake may jostle the ground at Yellowstone, triggering small quakes by moving the hydrothermal fluids responsible for Yellowstone geysers and hot springs.
Those wishing to view seismograms of the Alaska earthquake and those in Yellowstone recorded on the Yellowstone seismic network may go to the web site: http://www.seis.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center website has information on the Alaskan earthquake that can be viewed at: http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/neic_lbbl.html
The Yellowstone seismic network is operated by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations as a partner in the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO). Information on YVO and earthquake activity in Yellowstone can be found at: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: November 24, 2000
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred at 9:20 p.m. MST this evening in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The epicenter of the shock was located about 1 mile north of Norris Junction. The earthquake was reported felt at Madison Junction and a Mammoth, Wyoming in the northern region of Yellowstone National Park. No damage has been reported. The event is in an area that experienced an M 5.9 event in 1975 that caused damage and is located in an area noted for earthquake swarms.
For information on earthquakes in Yellowstone, go to www.quake.utah.edu.
Please click here for a link to "Did you feel it?" The Community Internet Intensity Survey.
Press Release
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Increased Earthquake Activity In Yellowstone National Park
July-August 2000
Click here to access information about swarm activity in Norris Geyser Basin. For further information about this earthquake sequence, please contact Dr. Robert Smith, rbsmith@mines.utah.