Dr.
Donald E. White — A GOSA Memoir
Compiled by T. Scott Bryan
Editor’s Introduction: I first met Dr. White while working as a
Ranger-Naturalist at Yellowstone’s Norris Geyser Basin during the summer of
1974. On one highly educational day I assisted him and his USGS field partner,
Manuel Nathanson, on an all-day spring depth and temperature survey. I ws
fortunate to also accompany him on several field trips in Yellowstone as well
as during a formal mapping project of hydrothermal explosion breccia deposits
east of Fishing Bridge.
In later years, Dr. White provided me with copies of numerous reports and
publicaions, as well as a complete set of the USGS “Thermal Maps” that were
produced during the 1960s. He strongly promoted all levels of education about
geysers. In the course of several personal letters written to me, he encouraged
my international geyser research and also, in writing, provided the positive
review that convinced Colorado Associated University Press (old name) to
publish the first edition of my The Geysers of Yellowstone
, in 1979.
I feel privileged to have known Dr. White, at least a little bit, and believe
there could be no better memorial in his honor than to publish the follow two
items that bear on the preservation of geysers. The first is a Memorandum,
typed on U.S. Geological Survey letterhead but intended for a New Zealand
audience. The second is the text of a talk (and short question-answer session)
he presented in New Zealand. In both articles, text that was underlined for
emphasis by Dr. White is underlined here; hand written comments that he
inserted into the copies he gave to me are inserted, in place within brackets.
The
Early 1970s Rejuvenation of the Daisy Geyser Group - Overview of activity from
1971 through 1973
Marie Wolf
Abstract: With the exception of two brief episodes of action in
1968, the geysers of the Daisy Group were dormant from February 1961 until July
1971. This paper provides a record of the detailed observations that were
conducted during the first three summers of this rejuvenation.
The
Extraordinary Thermal Activity of El Tatio Geyser Field, Chile — A Special
Report
Alan Glennon and Rhonda Pfaff
Abstract: El Tatio Geyser Field (locally known as Los Geiseres
del Tatio) is located within the Andes Mountains of northern Chile at 4,200
meters above mean sea level, 150 kilometers east, southeast of Calama, Chile.
With over 80 active geysers, El Tatio is the largest geyser field in the
southern hemisphere and the third largest field in the world, following
Yellowstone, USA, and Dolina Geizerov, Russia. From March 19-21, 2002, the
authors visited the geothermal field to inventory the geysers and their
behavior. Of over 110 erupting springs documented, more than 80 were identified
as true geysers and an additional 30 were perpetual spouters. Despite reports
that geyser activity occurred only in the morning, no abatement in activity was
observed at any time within any part of the field. Although the observed
activity was vigorous, eruptions commonly reached less than one meter. Of the
erupting springs cataloged, the mean spouting height was 69 centimeters. Of the
true geysers cataloged, the eruptions averaged 76 centimeters. El Tatio Geyser
Field contains approximately 8 percent of the world’s geysers.
A
Statistical Analysis and Comparison of the Activity of Old Faithful Geyser,
September-October 1996 and June-July 1997
Will Moats
Abstract: Many large and spectacular geysers at Yellowstone’s
Upper Geyser Basin increased their eruptive activity between late-1996 and
mid-1997, but whether or not Old Faithful Geyser participated in this change
has not been considered. A statistical study of Old Faithful’s eruption height,
interval, and duration was undertaken to investigate possible changes. In
summary, although other geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin may have increased
their activity over this time frame, Old Faithful did not.
The
Major Activity of Link Geyser in 2002
Tara Cross
Abstract: Major eruptions by Link Geyser, the most significant
geyser
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