Echinus Geyser

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

Echinus Geyser
Echinus Geyser during an eruption
LocationNorris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Park County, Wyoming
Coordinates44°43′21″N 110°42′05″W[1]
Elevation7,575 feet (2,309 m)[2]
TypeFountain geyser
Eruption height40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m)
Frequencyrare
Duration4 minutes
Temperature80.3 °C (176.5 °F)[1]
Norris Geyser Basin

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. "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. "Echinus Geyser". National Park Service.
  5. "Echinus Geyser". GeyserTimes.
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