In Yellowstone, 2024 will probably be remembered as the year of the hydrothermal explosion. There were two noteworthy such events, each important for different reasons.
First came the hydrothermal explosion in Norris Geyser Basin. That occurred on a terrace overlooking Porcelain Basin on April 15. The area had been a site of abundant thermal activity over the past few years, with water cascading into Nuphar Lake since 2021–2022 and causing the lake to change to a blue-green color and the level to rise.