Predictions Of Yellowstone’s Demise Proved To Be Premature

Recently Cowboy State Daily ran to story of what could have been a record-setting steam eruption in Yellowstone.

Kathleen Rynkiewicz-Stuby was lucky enough to cross that one off last weekend when the world’s tallest active geyser violently spewed hot water and steam up to 400 feet into the sky.

Rynkiewicz-Stuby captured video of the irregular event. It shows a column of steam being forced out of the geyser, with a sound reminiscent of a jet engine. (CSD).

Hold on- there were predictions that such impressive eruptions were coming to an end.

As the West went through its last drought predictions were made about the end of those impressive geysers in Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone's geysers at risk of extinction from climate change, tree skeletons reveal. In a warmer and drier climate, the groundwater that fuels Yellowstone's tallest active geyser could dwindle, resulting in less frequent eruptions and even extinction. (Live Science).

...a recent study has revealed that rising temperatures, reduced snowfall and increased rain threaten to shut Old Faithful off completely by the end of the century. (The Guardian). 

However, experts who follow long-term weather trends were pointing out, in the middle of that drought, that the dry patch we were going through would come to an end.

Sure enough, it did.

Our lakes are full again and mountains are once again capped with snow.

This is much like the predictions that Glacier National Park in Montana would be glacier-free by 2020.

There were even signs posted in the park for tourists to read as they looked at the snow and ice pack.

However, those signs were quietly removed when that stubborn glacier refused to melt.

They're not melted — yet. Signs added to Montana's Glacier National Park over a decade ago forecasting that the park's signature dense ice formations would be gone by 2020 have been removed. (New York Post).

Let's be very clear on our geological history:

That glacier in Montana was not always there. Someday it will be gone.

The geysers in Yellowstone were not always there. Someday they too will be gone.

Welcome to Earth, where everything is always changing and nothing stays the same.