Currently, limited high-resolution data are available to search for evidence of unpainted thermal features of Yellowstone lakes. In the future, where are the thermal properties of yellowstone, how they change over time, and how they contribute to the overall thermal budget of the hydropower system. The mapping of tropical areas in Yellowstone is in progress, not only because some areas are remote deserts, but also because changes occur frequently. Groups of thermal properties expand, contract, expand, decay and migrate over time scales ranging from weeks to months. The new tropical zone formed over the last 20 years near Lake Tern is a prime example.

There are also tropical areas below the lakes of Yellowstone. In fact, below Yellowstone Lake is one of the hottest areas in the park! Other lakes also host tropical regions, and by observing lakes, we can learn about the activity of these regions. This is because the lakes freeze every winter, receiving heat from nearby hot springs or underwater vents.

Yellowstone has more than 2,000 lakes. There are a handful of large lakes (more than 1 sq km, or about 250 acres), including Yellowstone, Showshot, Louis, Hart, and Delusion Lakes. There are 45 lakes of medium size (0.1 to 1 sq km, or approximately 25–250 acres, area), the rest are small and small (up to 80 sq m, or 860 sq ft), most of which are small and do not even have a name.