Current monitoring systems are not well suited for detecting short-term changes in Yellowstone's hydrothermal systems. In fact, there is only one seismometer located within a geyser basin. That is station YNM, in the Norris area — the station that best shows eruptions from Steamboat geyser. Most seismic stations are located away from hydrothermal areas to avoid the "noise" created by hot water moving around just beneath the surface, which makes it harder to locate earthquakes in the region.

Scientists also do not have a good sense for how the composition of gases and water changes over time. The chemistry of Yellowstone's thermal areas has been researched extensively over the past century, but there have been few studies that sample the same areas consistently through time.

Continuous monitoring of Yellowstone's geyser basins would provide data before, during, and after interesting events. So far, scientists have been in response mode — after an event takes place we leap into action to deploy additional monitoring equipment. Data that cover the buildup to an event could be critical to forecasting future similar changes.