Whats going on at yellowstone?

If one were an alarmist, one might think that the "pipe cleaner" signature was an indication of mother nature slowly prying open a squeaking door and the rock hinges scrape together as it slowly prepares to release ARMAGEDDON.

Actually, it COULD be a compressor at a nearby air sampling station, however it would seem odd that the magnitude would vary so much in response to other events unless what we are seeing is an AGC response of the sensor to those other events.

I would expect a piston type compressor to start with a lurch, (see small spike at beginning of pipe cleaners) then proceed to clatter away with increasing intensity (see tapered increase in intensity of waveform) as the back pressure in the tank increases, then shut off abruptly as the pressure setpoint is attained. Hmmm!!

Originally posted by VX-7R
reply to post by raepperle

 

No problem. I think we've got the same interpretations of a lot of this because both of us have quite a few years of electronics and radio experience. We've both probably done a LOT of oscilloscope viewing, and that kind of garbage is all too familiar.

You tend to develop a pretty immediate "filtering" of what you see on any kind of time/amplitude displays like this based on lots of experience.

And with both of us being based in Wyoming, and maybe being somewhat familiar with the Yellowstone area, we probably tend to think the same things about the weather-related issues as well.

Since they kind of warn us about posting personally identifiable information here, I'm not going to post my call sign, but I am another ham nerd, too

Dont forget us degreed EE's sitting in Casper still watching all this in the shadows.

Noise in the data graphs? From a CB? I doubt that. CB is 27Mhz, these sensors are not looking at the 27Mhz band, or anywhere near that.

Compressor noise...how close are those sensors to any air compressor btw? And wouldnt the engineers who planned and installed these things know that if placed near any kind of man made noise apparatus that it would have the potential to interfere with a wanted reading vs unwanted reading? I would hope so otherwise those engineers need to find another line of work!!

BTW, has anyone heard from Sageturkey??? Did he run away or give up on us??



Cheers!!!!

I think it's likely that it isn't a geologic noise, but I've no idea as to what it is. Anyone notice the activity at soda butte and mammoth hot springs?

Hey here is a pic of the lake from Washburn, I just snapshot it, at 7:42pm est. Jan. 16th.

It seems there is steam coming out from the little island there?
Any opinions on that?

Originally posted by Old Farmer

If one were an alarmist, one might think that the "pipe cleaner" signature was an indication of mother nature slowly prying open a squeaking door and the rock hinges scrape together as it slowly prepares to release ARMAGEDDON.

Actually, it COULD be a compressor at a nearby air sampling station, however it would seem odd that the magnitude would vary so much in response to other events unless what we are seeing is an AGC response of the sensor to those other events.

I would expect a piston type compressor to start with a lurch, (see small spike at beginning of pipe cleaners) then proceed to clatter away with increasing intensity (see tapered increase in intensity of waveform) as the back pressure in the tank increases, then shut off abruptly as the pressure setpoint is attained. Hmmm!!

Announcing a new film from director Jerry Bruckheimer:

In a world, where people spend a lot of time online, speculating about random squiggles on charts, only one man can save them from: SuperAircompressor!

Starring Bruce Willis as the rugged Wyoming electrical engineer no one listened to until it was almost too late! Will he turn it off before causing countless people minor annoyance? Can he save his attractive yet intransigent teenage daughter (portrayed by Lindsey Lohan) from geyser-induced steam burns, or will it be up to her boyfriend, the handsome backpacker (Hayden Christianson)?

reply to post by quakewatcher


ROFLMAO!!!!

2nd line


Cheers!!!!

Originally posted by NBrink
I think it's likely that it isn't a geologic noise, but I've no idea as to what it is. Anyone notice the activity at soda butte and mammoth hot springs?

This is more or less standard for these areas on weekdays, between 6 am and 6 pm. It's cultural noise, snow mobiles, snow plows, etc.

Originally posted by quakewatcher

Originally posted by NBrink
I think it's likely that it isn't a geologic noise, but I've no idea as to what it is. Anyone notice the activity at soda butte and mammoth hot springs?

This is more or less standard for these areas on weekdays, between 6 am and 6 pm. It's cultural noise, snow mobiles, snow plows, etc.

I dont doubt that the sensors are going to pick up "some" noises like that from snow mobiles and plows and someone jumping up and down on purpose right next to the sensor.

But those sensors are not in wide open public areas. And they are located away from public gathering areas and some of them are surrounded by a fence to keep out those who are not supposed to be there.

BTW, had to star that previous post about the movie...Im still busting a gut over that one!! Too funny!!!!


Cheers!!!!

Originally posted by questioningall
Hey here is a pic of the lake from Washburn, I just snapshot it, at 7:42pm est. Jan. 16th.

It seems there is steam coming out from the little island there?
Any opinions on that?

Good question... Should there be steam coming out of this lake?
How far is this from Garland, TN?

Originally posted by questioningall
Hey here is a pic of the lake from Washburn, I just snapshot it, at 7:42pm est. Jan. 16th.

It seems there is steam coming out from the little island there?
Any opinions on that?

Yup, it's called Old Faithfull.

Originally posted by PuterMan

Originally posted by questioningall
Hey here is a pic of the lake from Washburn, I just snapshot it, at 7:42pm est. Jan. 16th.

It seems there is steam coming out from the little island there?
Any opinions on that?

Yup, it's called Old Faithfull.

I thought he meant Washburn Tenn .... oops -
I was thinking about todays Tenn EQ..
Sorry - I will go back into hibernation now -

Yup, it's called Old Faithfull.


Yup that's what they named compressor that goes off every 65 min,

reply to post by spinkyboo


I may have this completely wrong, but the view from Mt Washburn looks out across the caldera. The white area is the caldera, not the lake. The lake is over on the far left, but no easy to pick out. I have attempted to mark it out here, but someone please shoot me down if I have this wrong.





Sorry, the pictures are a bit too big. The arrow on the right at the top is OF

[edit on 16/1/09 by PuterMan]

I dont doubt that the sensors are going to pick up "some" noises like that from snow mobiles and plows and someone jumping up and down on purpose right next to the sensor.

But those sensors are not in wide open public areas. And they are located away from public gathering areas and some of them are surrounded by a fence to keep out those who are not supposed to be there.

BTW, had to star that previous post about the movie...Im still busting a gut over that one!! Too funny!!!!

Cheers!!!!

If you go back over the course of a week or so and look at these stations every day, you'll notice this activity occurs only during daylight hours, and is not picked up by other stations.

It's been consistent for the past 3-4 weeks I've been watching it. I can't think of any other good explanation for that.

Originally posted by PuterMan
reply to post by spinkyboo

 

I may have this completely wrong, but the view from Mt Washburn looks out across the caldera. The white area is the caldera, not the lake. The lake is over on the far left, but no easy to pick out. I have attempted to mark it out here, but someone please shoot me down if I have this wrong.

[edit on 16/1/09 by PuterMan]

Aha I get it now. Thanks.... and please no one shoot this wonderful Puterman down...

As far as the so called pipe cleaner noise on the LKWY webicorder, a hundred or so pages back on this thread, someone posted an email from someone at USGS that stated it was probably a compressor used for taking air samples.

Almost ten years ago the Park was contemplating closing it to snowmobiles. At that time many Rangers on duty were wearing face gear to help in not breathing in the fumes. The air quality was supposedly terrible because of all the exhaust. Since then they monitor the air constantly in the winter months, for that reason. Due to the cold in winter months, when it is still, that exhaust settles and stays in that caldera area.

So, the possiblility of an air compressor at that site is more than likely.

...guys, I can't keep up with this thread anymore...its like reading one of my law books at times....have any of you seen enough to throw a prediction or two about any eruption time table?...or brave enough to throw one out? I have kids in Bozeman, MT. So I'm not interested in what graph said what or measurements. I just want to know if there is some concensus about if there is a legitimate concern or if this is just some interesting science project for you guys. Could you throw me a bone by page 400?

Originally posted by quakewatcher

If you go back over the course of a week or so and look at these stations every day, you'll notice this activity occurs only during daylight hours, and is not picked up by other stations.

It's been consistent for the past 3-4 weeks I've been watching it. I can't think of any other good explanation for that.

I would think its because since Dec 17, the increased geological activity has given them reason to turn up the sensors to make even more sensitive readings and map them. In turn that might account for the regular consistant patterns seen, but that could just be subtile geological activity that is not seen in a less sensitive sensor setting and not necessarily man made noises.

What would confirm the man made noise theory is to find records from last year and the year before during the winter seasons to see if it is in fact caused by snow plows and recreational snow mobiles.

Just from the engineering point of view, it doesnt make any sense to place siesmic sensors near man made noise generating devices like compressors or close to a highway or near a public park where snow mobiles and snow plows are going to be running about. Especially in an area where you want to monitor geological activity with sensors that are built to detect vibrations.

Also, from the engineering point of view, if these sensors are in fact picking up man made noises, the operators and geologists looking over these graphs would know after years of observation, when and what those readings are from. Its like how VX-7R mentioned earlier, after spending time in front of a oscilliscope looking at waveforms, you learn what a particular waveform is supposed to look like from a given signal vs one with erroneous noise that should not be there, and then you find out what is making that noise, note the findings, find the solution and always remember that odd ball waveform and what caused it.

These graphs are no different, nor is the learning curve for the geologists in what they see on the graphs from the sensors.

What is needed also to find out if these noises are made from compressors or snow plows etc, is a map with the sensor positions, the compressor locations, the road locations, and the public areas where snow mobiles are allowed and where the snow plows go do their thing.

I would bet anything that these sensors are no where near any of these potential man made noise makers.



Cheers!!!!

[edit on 16-1-2009 by RFBurns]

reply to post by northeaster


I heard there were air stagnation advisories in effect for much of the upper midwest right now, so it makes sense they'd be using it more today.

....another line. Why do we have to have another line?

reply to post by quakewatcher


That could be true. But if they are concerned about the air, those air pumps wouldnt just be running between 6a and 6p a week at a time, they would want to know what the air quality is on a 24/7 basis, hence those patterns would be showing up all the time.

Any contamination from that guyser being spewed out into the air isnt going to be selective in when it decides to spit out air contaminants. It could happen at any time. And if they need to know that it occurs, those air pumps making air sample readings need to be running 24/7.



Cheers!!!!