Science Desk · USGS · Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

How engineers keep Yellowstone’s monitoring network running

Tiltmeters, seismometers, strainmeters and GPS stations across the park are serviced on foot, by helicopter and over snow.

Agency release dated 2026-10-12

What the record says

• The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s weekly column describes a network of tiltmeters, seismometers, meteorological instruments, strainmeters and GPS stations.
• Field engineers made a 10-mile round-trip hike into Hayden Valley to service the HVWY GPS station.
• With the park helitack crew, engineers reached the WLWY GPS station on the Sour Creek resurgent dome in September 2025 to replace a corroded antenna cable.

Source: USGS — By land, by air, and by water: Servicing Yellowstone’s geophysical monitoring networks. Notice Nearby summarized this release; it adds no claims beyond the agency record.