image: Book cover for Geysers: What They Are and How They Work, Third Edition. Credit Geological Society of America
Credit: Credit Geological Society of America
Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) is proud to announce the release of Geysers: What They Are and How They Work, Third Edition, by noted geologist and Yellowstone expert T. Scott Bryan. This updated edition of Bryan’s classic work captures the drama, mystery, and science behind some of the planet’s most extraordinary natural phenomena.
In this richly illustrated guide, Bryan returns to the geysers of Yellowstone National Park—including Old Faithful, Castle, Grand, Steamboat, and Echinus—offering fresh insights into their shifting activity and distinct personalities. Readers will discover why some geysers erupt with clockwork regularity while others slumber for decades before roaring back to life, and what drives the breathtaking power that propels columns of water hundreds of feet into the air.
Using vivid color photographs and clear, engaging explanations, Bryan unravels how geysers form, why they appear only in certain geothermal landscapes, and what makes each one unique. This third edition features 95 color photographs, four detailed illustrations and maps, and a glossary, suggested readings, and index, making it an essential resource for park visitors, educators, and anyone fascinated by the dynamic forces shaping our planet.
Journalists may request a finished copy from klandow@geosociety.org.
Geysers: What They Are and How They Work, Third Edition
by T. Scott Bryan
ISBN 9780813741291 • Trade paperback • $22.00
8⅜ x 9 • 96 pages
95 color photographs • 4 color illustrations and maps, glossary, suggested reading, index
Publication date: 9 December 2025
About the Author
T. Scott Bryan earned degrees in geological sciences at San Diego State University and the University of Montana. He spent fourteen summers working as an interpretive ranger in Yellowstone National Park and later served in the Volunteer in Parks program. He was one of the founding directors—and the first president—of the Geyser Observation and Study Association and is the author of The Geysers of Yellowstone and GSA’s Arizona Rocks! He is also the coauthor of The Explorer’s Guide to Death Valley National Park, written with his wife, Betty Tucker-Bryan. Bryan is retired as emeritus professor of geology and astronomy at Victor Valley College in Victorville, California, and now lives near Tucson, Arizona.
About the Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global professional society with more than 17,000 members across over 100 countries. As a leading voice for the geosciences, GSA advances the understanding of Earth's dynamic processes and fosters collaboration among scientists, educators, and policymakers. GSA publishes Geology, the top-ranked geoscience journal, along with a diverse portfolio of scholarly journals, books, and conference proceedings—several of which rank among Amazon's top 100 best-selling geology titles.
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