Dilemma Geyser

Last updated
Dilemma Geyser
Dilemma Geyser
Name originUnofficial
LocationLower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates 44°32′07″N110°47′59″W / 44.5351872°N 110.799677°W / 44.5351872; -110.799677 [1]
Eruption height1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m)
Frequencyoccasional

Dilemma Geyser is a geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. [2] It is part of the Pink Cone complex. Other geysers in this group are Bead Geyser, Box Spring, Labial Geyser, Labial's Satellite Geyser, Narcissus Geyser, Pink Geyser, and Pink Cone Geyser.

Eruptions of Dilemma Geyser are rare. When active, they vary from a few seconds to a few minutes in duration and reach as high as 10 feet (3.0 m) in springtime with 1 to 4 feet (0.30 to 1.22 m) the rest of the year. Intervals (= eruption start to eruption start) are 2 to 10 minutes.

Before 1989, this geyser had tiny eruptions, with a few water drops reaching above grass level. However, the two vents are surrounded by developed runoff channels. The inadequacy of the observed eruption water volumes to produce the channels was the inspiration for the name "Dilemma Geyser". In 1989, more forceful eruptions occurred, with water runoff volumes sufficient to explain the channels. [2]

Dilemma was active in 1992 and sporadically in the 2000s. It has not been reported erupting since 2006.

The RCN[ clarification needed ] location of this geyser has been unintentionally switched with A-0 Geyser, elsewhere in the Lower Geyser Basin.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Faithful</span> Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States

Old Faithful is a cone geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. It was named in 1870 during the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park to be named. It is a highly predictable geothermal feature and has erupted every 44 minutes to two hours since 2000. The geyser and the nearby Old Faithful Inn are part of the Old Faithful Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geothermal areas of Yellowstone</span> Geyser basins and other geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park

The geothermal areas of Yellowstone include several geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park as well as other geothermal features such as hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. The number of thermal features in Yellowstone is estimated at 10,000. A study that was completed in 2011 found that a total of 1,283 geysers have erupted in Yellowstone, 465 of which are active during an average year. These are distributed among nine geyser basins, with a few geysers found in smaller thermal areas throughout the Park. The number of geysers in each geyser basin are as follows: Upper Geyser Basin (410), Midway Geyser Basin (59), Lower Geyser Basin (283), Norris Geyser Basin (193), West Thumb Geyser Basin (84), Gibbon Geyser Basin (24), Lone Star Geyser Basin (21), Shoshone Geyser Basin (107), Heart Lake Geyser Basin (69), other areas (33). Although famous large geysers like Old Faithful are part of the total, most of Yellowstone's geysers are small, erupting to only a foot or two. The hydrothermal system that supplies the geysers with hot water sits within an ancient active caldera. Many of the thermal features in Yellowstone build up sinter, geyserite, or travertine deposits around and within them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Geyser</span> Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Castle Geyser is a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. It is noted for the particularly large geyserite sinter deposits, which form its cone. These deposits have been likened in appearance to a castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-0 Geyser</span> Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, US

A-0 Geyser is a geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botryoidal Spring</span>

Botryoidal Spring is a fountain-type geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomizer Geyser</span>

Atomizer Geyser is a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Atomizer Geyser is part of the Cascade Group which also includes Artemisia Geyser. The geyser is named for a fine mist resembling the spray from an atomizer that is ejected during major eruptions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bead Geyser</span>

Bead Geyser is a cone-type geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

Box Spring is a geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

Labial Geyser is a fountain-type geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It is part of the Pink Cone Group. Other geysers in this groups are Labial's Satellite Geyser, Bead Geyser, Box Spring, Dilemma Geyser, Narcissus Geyser, Pink Geyser, and Pink Cone Geyser.

Narcissus Geyser is a geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Narcissus Geyser is part of the Pink Cone Group. Other geysers in this group are Bead Geyser, Box Spring, Dilemma Geyser, Labial Geyser, Labial's Satellite Geyser, Pink Geyser, and Pink Cone Geyser.

Pink Geyser is a fountain-type geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink Cone Geyser</span> Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park

Pink Cone Geyser is a cone-type geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. It is part of the Pink Cone Group. Other geysers in this groups include Bead Geyser, Box Spring, Dilemma Geyser, Labial Geyser, Labial's Satellite Geyser, Narcissus Geyser, and Pink Geyser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Excelsior Geyser</span> Dormant fountain-type geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park

Excelsior Geyser Crater, formerly known as Excelsior Geyser, is a dormant fountain-type geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Excelsior was named by the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beehive Geyser</span>

Beehive Geyser is a geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The 4-foot (1.2 m) tall cone resembles a straw beehive. Beehive's Indicator is a small, jagged cone-type geyser located about 10 feet (3.0 m) from Beehive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fountain Geyser</span> Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park

Fountain Geyser is a geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echinus Geyser</span> Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet Geyser</span> Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park

Jet Geyser is a geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Jet Geyser is in the Fountain Group that includes Fountain Geyser, Morning Geyser, Red Spouter and Silex Spring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant Geyser</span> Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

Giant Geyser is a cone-type geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Giant Geyser is the namesake for the Giant Group of geysers, which, on its platform, includes Bijou Geyser, Catfish Geyser, Mastiff Geyser, the "Platform Vents," and Turtle Geyser. Giant Geyser's Platform, a raised stone structure incorporating all these geysers. Giant is notable for its spectacular, but sporadic eruptions, as well as for its very large cone of geyserite, which stands about 12 feet tall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fan and Mortar Geysers</span>

Fan and Mortar Geysers are two geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. For the past several decades, they have erupted in concert with one another and are generally talked about together. The records detailing these geysers' known eruptive history shows that they have been infrequent and irregular performers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Dome Geyser</span> Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park

White Dome Geyser is a geyser located in the Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park in the United States.

References

  1. "Dilemma Geyser". Yellowstone Geothermal Features Database. Montana State University.
  2. 1 2 "Pink Cone Group". Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA). Archived from the original on 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2010-10-30.