In August, the temperature of the thermally heated water at the popular swimming hole north of Mammoth Hot Springs was approximately 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Over the past seven days, the temperature has ranged from about 136.5 to 139.5 degrees.
Park geologist Henry Heasler said that he and his staff are not absolutely certain what is going on. One theory is cold water flowing into the Boiling River through underground sinkholes in the underlying travertine is being blocked or diverted somehow. Another theory could be that less cold water from the Gardner River is diluting the Boiling River water where the two rivers meet.
The GRC is hosting a Workshop/Fieldtrip to Yellowstone National Park, June 22-26. The workshop will include a tour of the major geologic features of the Park, the site of the greatest concentration of geothermal features in the world, and discussions of its volcanic history, geochemistry, and hydrology.