Echinus Geyser

Geyser in Yellowstone National Park
44°43′21″N 110°42′05″W / 44.7224352°N 110.7013199°W / 44.7224352; -110.7013199[1]Elevation7,575 feet (2,309 m)[2]TypeFountain geyserEruption height40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m)FrequencyrareDuration4 minutesTemperature80.3 °C (176.5 °F)[1]
Norris Geyser Basin

Echinus Geyser is a geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

History

Echinus was named during one of the U.S. Geological Surveys of the park in the late 1870s or early 1880s. The name Echinus comes from the spiny appearance of the cone that resembles a Sea urchin or class Echinoidea.[3]

Eruption

Echinus' eruptions are unpredictable. Its fountain reaches a height of as much as 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m), with a duration of about 4 minutes. Prior to 1998, this geyser was very regular, every 35 to 75 minutes. There were also major eruptions that lasted as much as 118 minutes. It is speculated that there was a secondary underground water source that used to power the major eruptions and that the connection to the source was severed leading to Echinus' current state.[4]

In October 2017, Echinus Geyser began to show signs of growing activity, with possible eruptions every 2-3 hours. In January 2018, Echinus' last eruption was recorded of this active phase.[5] One recorded eruption occurred in January 2019.[5]

Echinus is the largest acid-water geyser in the world. Its waters have a pH of 3.3 to 3.6, nearly as acidic as vinegar.[4] The water temperature is 80.3 °C (176.5 °F).[1]

  • Echinus Geyser Pool, 1965
    Echinus Geyser Pool, 1965
  • Echinus on June 9, 2018
    Echinus on June 9, 2018

References

  1. ^ a b c "Echinus Geyser". Yellowstone Geothermal Features Database. Montana State University.
  2. ^ "Echinus Geyser". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ Haines, Aubrey L. (1996). Yellowstone Place Names-Mirrors of History. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. p. 120. ISBN 0-87081-383-8.
  4. ^ a b "Echinus Geyser". National Park Service.
  5. ^ a b "Echinus Geyser". GeyserTimes.
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Yellowstone National Park - Norris and Madison
Geothermal features, historic structures and other attractions in the Norris and Madison Junction areas
Norris Geyser Basin
  • Big Alcove Spring
  • Echinus Geyser
  • Emerald Spring
  • Steamboat Geyser
Steamboat Geyser
Gibbon Geyser Basin
  • Beryl Spring
Structures and historyGeography and geology