GEOCORPS AMERICA IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: CONSTRUCTING A DIGITAL GEOLOGIC DATABASE FOR NORRIS GEYSER BASIN

During the summer of 2005, the GeoCorps America program provided a valuable opportunity for a recent geology graduate and benefited Yellowstone National Park. Gaining knowledge and practical experience in the geosciences was part of the Yellowstone adventure. The experience of working in Yellowstone National Park also reinforced the need to be flexible as other projects emerged as high priority. Summer projects included constructing a prototype geologic database for Norris Geyser Basin, displaying digital geologic information in ArcGIS, gathering hydrologic data, and collecting ground control points for airborne, multi-spectral imagery.

The major project was the construction of the geologic database for Norris Geyser Basin. The geologic database included a bibliography and reports provided by Yellowstone National Park staff, volunteers, and researchers. A search of the Yellowstone Research Library's database and a physical search of the stacks and vertical files generated bibliographic data for the geologic database. Many reports were not available in digital format and required entry into Excel spreadsheets. The information entered into the spreadsheets consisted of geochemical data, temperature, pH, conductivity, and links to digital photographs. Challenges to compiling the digital geologic database entailed: various sources of information, age and condition of historical documents, format of the reports, lack of spatial coordinates, and names of thermal features. Identifying a thermal feature by a commonly used name without including spatial coordinates causes a problem when assigning scientific data to a specific location in a dynamic geyser basin.

The major benefit of a digital geologic database for Norris Geyser Basin is easy access to geologic information. Eventually, researchers, resource managers, and the general public will be able to search the geologic database and visualize geologic information for Norris Geyser Basin using internet map server technology.