Hydrothermal monitoring of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, USA, using airborne thermal infrared imagery

•Airborne night-thermal infrared imagery is used to monitor Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone.•Uncorrected radiated geothermal power is quantified for specific geohydrologic areas.•Power-temperature histograms illustrate hydrothermal characteristics of geohydrologic areas.•Changing thermal infrared spatial patterns are shown for several years.•Carefully defined geohydrologic areas are important for quantifying hydrothermal change. A technique that utilizes radiative power from airborne night-thermal infrared imagery is described for monitoring Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. This technique does not define the total corrected radiative power emitted from hydrothermal areas. Instead, the uncorrected geothermal power for geohydrologic areas is compared to quantitatively document temporal changes in specific hydrothermal areas. Power-temperature histograms for geohydrologic areas illustrate hydrothermal characteristics of geohydrologic areas and document hydrothermal changes.