Geysers What they are:
Geysers are a type of hot spring that erupts in a column of steam or hot water. They are made when rain water soaks into the ground and percolates, or runs, into deep cracks in the earth. There, the water may encounter heated rocks that warm the water until it is well over boiling point. The hot water pushes upward through the cracks and emerges as either steam or water. Geysers erupt spasmodically or regularly, depending on the conditions of the underground passageways. The intervals between eruptions may range from minutes to years. An eruption of a geyser may last anywhere from a few minutes to few hours. The height of a geyser may vary from 3 feet to 328 feet.

Where they are found:
Most geysers are found in geothermal areas where fault lines or trenches in the earth's crust provide channels through which ground water can rise. Places where many geysers can be found in one area include Iceland, New Zealand, and the U.S. One of the most famous geyser sites is Yellowstone National Park. There are more than 3000 geysers and hot springs in the park, including the most famous geyser Old Faithful. Old Faithful expels 38,000 to 45,000 liters of hot water per eruption.

How they affect us:
One use of keeping track of geyser activity involves the study of volcanic regions. It is found that geysers appear frequently in volcanic, or recently volcanic, regions around the world. Many believe geysers are surface indicators of the existence of magma beneath the earth's surface.

Another way geysers may affect us is in the use of power. Steam from the geyser is purified, transported in insulated pipes, pressurized, and made into electrical power. These geothermal power plants can be found in northern California, Nevada, Utah, and Hawaii.

Other Links:

- Dr. G.R. Foulger

- About Geysers

- Yellowstone Geysers

- Geysers

This page created by Jamie Leathers
Comments? E-mail Jay Kuecker