Comparative study of the Pleistocene Cakmak quarry (Denizli Basin, Turkey) and modern Mammoth Hot Springs deposits (Yellowstone National Park, USA)

This study compares and contrasts the travertine depositional facies of two of the largest sites of travertine formation, located in very different geological contexts, i.e. the modern Mammoth Hot Spring (MHS) system in the active volcanic complex of Yellowstone National Park (USA) and the Pleistocene Cakmak quarry, a well-exposed example of the Ballık travertines in the extensional Denizli Basin (Turkey). New, 2D to 3D facies maps of both travertine systems, combined with microscopy, assist in proposing an integrated spring depositional model, based on the existing MHS facies model, understanding general controls on meter to kilometer scale travertine deposit architecture and its preservation, and provide quantitative estimates of facies spatial coverage and slope using GIS. The comparison resulted in the distinction of eight facies, grouped in five downstream facies zones from Vent to Distal Slope. Notwithstanding the different geological context of both travertine systems, observations show that several of the facies are strikingly comparable (draping Apron and Channel Facies, top-slope Pond Facies, crystalline Proximal Slope Facies and Distal Slope Facies), whereas other facies do not have a precise, exposed equivalent (Vent Facies, pavement Apron and Channel Facies, extended Pond facies and phyto Proximal Slope Facies). Combining observations of active springs at MHS with the Cakmak vertical travertine quarry exposures demonstrates that lateral and vertical facies transitions are a sensitive record of changes in the spring dynamics (flow intensity and paths) that become well-preserved in the geological record, and can be recognized as prograding, aggrading, retrograding trends or erosive surfaces, traceable over tens to hundreds of meters. Quantification of facies specific coverage at MHS shows that Proximal and Distal Slope Facies deposits cover as much as ∼90% of the total mapped surface area. In addition, only ∼7% of the surface is found to be marked by a waterfilm related to an active flowing spring. Slope statistics reveal that strong slope breaks can often be related to transgressive Apron and Channel Facies belts and that variable, but steep slopes (up to 40°) are dominated by Proximal Slope Facies, in agreement with the Cakmak exposures. Integrating travertine facies and architecture of deposits formed in distinct geological contexts can improve the prediction of general spring facies distributions and controls in other, modern and ancient, subsurface travertine systems

Stratigraphy from Borehole Strain, Yellowstone National Park & Monitoring Norris Geyser Basin with Thermal IR Remote Sensing

Dr. Heasler discusses hydrothermal monitoring of Norris Geyser Basin using night time, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) imagery for 2008 to 2012. Dr. Jaworowski presents preliminary results of drilling boreholes in Yellowstone National Park during 2007 and 2008, which bear on the extent of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system

Estimation of temporal and spatial heat budget in Norris Geyser Basin

Using remote sensing to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of heat budget in geothermal and hydrothermal areas is yet to be acknowledged as a state of the art tool. The spatial and temporal distribution of the heat budget was estimated for Norris Geyser Basin (NGB), the hottest and most changeable thermal area in Yellowstone National Park. Airborne thermal infrared images in the 8-12 µm band along with multispectral images in the green (0.57 µm), red (0.65 µm), and near infrared (0.80 µm) bands, were obtained for five consecutive years with the intent of measuring the spatial distribution of surface temperatures and to identify the different types of terrain cover for the purpose of estimating surface emissivity. The images were taken in the month of September in each of the years under clear sky conditions, close to midnight and around midday. Consistent methods were used for image acquisition, processing, and atmospheric correction, to ensure that the variability in the results are solely due to variability in the geothermal system. The total heat budget comprising of conduction heat, convection heat, radiation heat, and mass transfer were estimated for NGB. High frequency real time data, needed to complete the estimation of the heat budget, were measured in two energy balance experiment towers installed upwind and downwind of the explosion crater within NGB. In this paper, information about image acquisition and processing, and the results of the heat budget during the five years are presented

Temporal and Seasonal Variations of the Hot Spring Basin Hydrothermal System, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Monitoring Yellowstone National Park’s hydrothermal systems and establishing hydrothermal baselines are the main goals of an ongoing collaborative effort between Yellowstone National Park’s Geology program and Utah State University’s Remote Sensing Services Laboratory. During the first years of this research effort, improvements were made in image acquisition, processing and calibration. In 2007, a broad-band, forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera (8–12 microns) provided reliable airborne images for a hydrothermal baseline of the Hot Spring Basin hydrothermal system. From 2008 to 2011, night-time, airborne thermal infrared image acquisitions during September yielded temperature maps that established the temporal variability of the hydrothermal system. A March 2012 airborne image acquisition provided an initial assessment of seasonal variability. The consistent, high-spatial resolution imagery (~1 m) demonstrates that the technique is robust and repeatable for generating corrected (atmosphere and emissivity) and calibrated temperature maps of the Hot Spring Basin hydrothermal system. Atmospheric conditions before and at flight-time determine the usefulness of the thermal infrared imagery for geohydrologic applications, such as hydrothermal monitoring. Although these ground-surface temperature maps are easily understood, quantification of radiative heat from the Hot Spring Basin hydrothermal system is an estimate of the system’s total energy output. Area is a key parameter for calculating the hydrothermal system’s heat output. Preliminary heat calculations suggest a radiative heat output of ~56 MW to 62 MW for the central Hot Spring Basin hydrothermal system. Challenges still remain in removing the latent solar component within the calibrated, atmospherically adjusted, and emissivity corrected night-time imagery