Thermal feature
Chromatic aquamarine
Radiation scatter
In their majestic elegance, the ecologically sensitive landforms of Yellowstone’s delicate thermal features are subject to consistent human interaction. At best this means an associated observational infrastructure must be built to allow close proximity. Perhaps more fundamental, however, is the premise of quantum theory which stipulates that the observer affects the observed reality by the very act of viewing.
“Near where we encamped were several hot springs which boil perpetually. Near these was an opening in the ground about 8 inches in diameter from which hot steam issues continually with a noise similar to that made by the steam issuing from a safety valve of an engine.” – Osborne Russell