26 June 2016 Tetons and Glaciers

Teton Range

Land of Many Resources

Wyoming is blessed with beauty and natural resources. The Tetons and Yellowstone geysers are a testament to this. Wind, also a Wyoming resource, has just arrived at Wyoming's doorstep, to help us in a time of great need. I read just the other day in the New York Times that the wind power industry in Wyoming may soon surpass its coal industry. A zero carbon emission energy source is good news for the climate. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/us/as-wind-power-lifts-wyomings-fortunes-coal-miners-are-left-in-the-dust.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWyoming&action=click&contentCollection=us&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection&_r=0

Castle Geyse

The Source of Yellowstone's Heat

Geothermal energy is evident in the many colorful and explosive geysers that dot the interior of Yellowstone National Park. Water in contact with hot magma located under the earth, is heated, boiled and expanded, forcing its way up out of the fissures in the earth with sometimes explosive eruptions. Old Faithful is the most famous of these explosive geysers. However, the more placid, deeply-colored, heated pools of water attract my attention.

Chromate Blue Geyser

Yellowstone National Park is in the heart of a tectonic activity called a continental hotspot. A pool of magma sits underneath the North American plate, and which, over time increases in volume and pressure enough to erupt explosively. The last time that this region exploded, about 640,000 years ago, it left behind a hole in the earth measuring an area of 35 miles by 45 miles.

Color Coding

The temperature of the water in the pools can be deciphered by the color of the pools. Primal life forms inhabit the pools and each form can tolerate specific temperature ranges. Each life form expresses specific colors. For example, the sky-blue color water is attributed to Archaea, and reaches temperatures of 199 degrees F. At 144 degrees, the rust color water is inhabited by fungi and at 133 degrees F, the banana-yellow water is inhabited by protozoa. Scientists think that life on earth may have begun in these kinds of extreme environments. The study of extremophiles, (the name given to these life forms), is a relatively new endeavor, yet research suggest that the diversity of life in these places may rival tropical rainforests.

Yellow and Gold Geyser Rust Colored Geyser

Geyser Hike

Even though the crowds in Yellowstone can be rather daunting, we have found that hiking the 6 mile long loop around the geysers, reduces the crowds to a small trickle and allows a closer approach to both the geysers and wildlife. Two years ago, we encountered a small herd of bison. This year, Unita ground squirrels and Mountain bluebirds caught my attention.

Unita Ground Squirrel Mountain Blue Bird

Flower of the Day: Help me with this one ??

Unknown Violet Flower