In Depth - Predicting Old Faithful

Duration:

4 minutes, 41 seconds

Old Faithful was once called “Eternity’s Timepiece” because of the regularity of its eruptions. However, this geyser never erupted at exact hourly intervals as many believe. Ranger Darlene Bos explains how we predict eruptions for this popular geyser. Additional filming by David Restivo and Jay Elhard.

 

More Information

• Predict Old Faithful's Next Eruption: Use the rangers’ formula to predict its next eruption. For kids ages 8+.
• Geysers video, Yellowstone InDepth episode 7 (5 min. 49 sec.): With over half the world's geysers, Yellowstone offers tremendous opportunities to see these geologic wonders in action. Explore the mechanics of geysers, their role in the park's history and what they teach us about the world in which we live.
• Current Activity of Selected Geysers: A list of last known eruptions for geysers, including predicted geysers. See the streaming Old Faithful webcam or @GeyserNPS on Twitter for the most recent prediction of Old Faithful.
• Learn about Geysers and other Hydrothermal Features
• Plan your visit to the Old Faithful Area