Nature
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When Steamboat Geyser erupts, it can rocket a column of scalding water 90-120 meters into the air, two to three times the average height of Old Faithful, and steam roars for twenty-four hours afterward. Major eruptions are rare and unpredictable, occurring from 4 days to 50 years apart, reflecting the broader pattern in Yellowstone’s geyser basins, where Old Faithful’s relatively predictable intervals are the exception. An earthquake could disrupt Old Faithful’s timetable, and a shift in subterranean plumbing could allow Steamboat more frequent eruptions. The only known indicators of a major eruption are massive, frequent bursts from the larger upslope vent to heights of at least 5-10 meters, accompanied by heavy runoff. When a major eruption occurs, the deep pool of nearby Cistern Spring drains almost completely, then gradually begins to refill within a day or two.
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