Red Sprouter Mudpot

[Teton Chuck]

This is a photo of the Red Sprouter Mud Pot, a feature on the Fountain Paint Pots walk in Yellowstone National Park. It consists of viscous red mud that is thrown into the air by escaping gas from below. Without some wind the escaping steam would hide the mud bursts. But I was lucky to have some wind and a setting sun.

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[Manfred M]

Having not been to Yellowstone, the ones I saw in New Zealand and Iceland were just gray coloured. The red colour is not something I have seen before. Your timing on the shot caught the exploding mud perfectly.

[Teton Chuck]

John and Manfred, thank you for your comments. There are a lot of gray mud pots in Yellowstone, but this one is red. I know of one outer hot spring that is red as well. They change with the seasons. More liquid in the spring and more viscous in the fall. It makes for completely different photo opportunities.

[Manfred M]

Thanks for the information Chuck. The colours varying by season is very interesting; I assume it is still red, but the shade changes, depending on viscosity?

[Teton Chuck]

Manfred, the color does not change with the seasons, but the viscosity changes. The gas escaping through less viscous material creates very different shaped plumes than that of more viscous material.

[Manfred M]

Manfred, the color does not change with the seasons, but the viscosity changes. The gas escaping through less viscous material creates very different shaped plumes than that of more viscous material.

Thanks Chuck - that makes sense. I misunderstood your last post.

With spring runoff the ground water level would be higher and that would certainly reduce the viscosity. As the ground water levels dry back in the summer and fall, the viscosity would increase.

[vaez]

nice pic special color