Atomizer Geyser

Atomizer Geyser
Location	Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming
Coordinates
Type	Cone Geyser
Eruption height	30 ft (9.1 m) (minor) 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) (major)
Duration	1 minute (minor) 8 to 10 minutes (major)
Temperature	194 °F (90 °C)

Atomizer Geyser is a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful area) of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Atomizer Geyser is part of the Old Road Group which includes Artemisia Geyser, a short distance down the Firehole River from Old Faithful and other major Upper Basin geysers. The geyser is named for a fine mist resembling the spray from an atomizer that is ejected during major eruptions.

Geology

Atomizer has two 3 foot (1 m) tall cones. One of the cones is the jetting cone from which all water jets come. The other cone sprays a fine mist during major eruptions, giving the geyser its name. The geyser erupts in series. The series consists of 3 to 5 minor eruptions and one major eruption. Minor eruptions last about one minute and reach to 30 feet (9.1 m). Major eruptions last 8 to 10 minutes and reach 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m). Major eruptions have a steam phase following the water phase.

Atomizer overflows its pool every few minutes for 2 to 4 hours until the first minor eruption occurs. 6 to 8 minor eruptions occur about 1 hour apart. Between 15 minutes and 1½ hours after the last minor eruption, the major eruption will begin. After a major eruption, the water pool takes 4 hours to refill.