"Drought's Impact on Yellowstone Geyser Unveiled through Petrified Trees"
A new study reveals that Yellowstone's Steamboat Geyser has experienced periods of inactivity due to droughts, and with the projected increase in droughts caused by global warming, the famous geyser's eruptions could become less frequent or even cease. The study used mineralized wood preserved by the geyser to reconstruct its history and found that droughts coincided with periods of tree growth, indicating reduced water supply and dormant geyser activity. As the American West faces a warmer and drier climate, the changes in geyser behavior could have long-term implications for managing visitation in Yellowstone National Park.