Geysers are made in specialgeological conditions. Only a few places onEarth have these conditions. Because of this, geysers are not very common. One place is the Yellowstone National Park, which is the remains of a giganticvolcano. Another isIceland, which sits on top of theMid-Atlantic Ridge, where newEarth's crust is formed.
Geysers are often nearactive volcanos. This is because the geyser is caused bymagma.[2] Surface water usually goes down to about2,000 metres (6,600ft). There, it mixes with hot rocks. Thepressurized water begins to boil. When it is pressured enough, hot water and steam burst out of the geyser.
Individual geysers do not last forever, butsystems of geysers last as long as the geological situation continues. The oldest individual geysers are only a few thousand years old.[4] Geysers are usually near volcanic areas.[4] As the water boils, the pressure increases. This forces hot steam and water to the surface through the geyser. Geysers are usually made because of three things that are around volcanoes.[4]
Great heat
A geyser needs a lot of heat . This heat comes from magma. This magma needs to be near the surface of the earth. Geysers need much more heat than is usually found near the earth's surface. This is why they are often around volcanoes or volcanic areas.
Water
The water that bursts from a geyser must travel underground through deep, high-pressure cracks in the earth's crust.
For the heated water to form a geyser, a plumbing system is needed. The water needs to be held while it is being heated.[4] The plumbing system is made up of a system offractures,fissures, spaces and sometimes cavities (holes).
Most importantly, the temperatures near the bottom of the geyser become high enough to start boiling the water. Steam bubbles come out of the top of the column. They burst through the geyser's vent. Some water flows or splashes out. This makes the weight of the column of water and the pressure on the water below less. When this pressure is released, the hot water turns into steam. It boils violently.[4]
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There are several bodies in theSolar System where jet-like eruptions, often called "geysers" and "cryogeysers", have been seen. Unlike geysers on Earth, these are eruptions of gas, together with dust or ice particles, but withoutliquid.
↑The wordgeyser comes fromGeysir.Geysir is the name of anerupting spring at Haukadalur,Iceland. Geysir's name came from theIcelandicverbgeysa. This means "to gush (pour, flow)". The verb fromOld Norse.
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Glennon, J.A., Pfaff, R.M. (2005).The operation and geography of carbon-dioxide-driven, cold-water geysers, GOSA Transactions, vol. 9, pp.184–192.
Kelly W.D., Wood C.L. (1993).Tidal interaction: A possible explanation for geysers and other fluid phenomena in the Neptune-Triton system, in Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-Fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 2: 789-790.
Rinehart, J.S. (1980) Geysers and Geothermal Energy. Springer-Verlag, 223 p.
Schreier, Carl (2003).Yellowstone's geysers, hot springs and fumaroles (Field guide) (2nd ed.). Homestead Pub.ISBN0-943972-09-4
Soderblom L.A., Becker T.L., Kieffer S.W., Brown R.H., Hansen C.J., Johnson T.V. (1990). Triton's geyser-like plumes— Discovery and basic characterization.Science 250: 410-415.
Allen, E.T. and Day, A.L. (1935)Hot Springs of the Yellowstone National Park, Publ. 466. Carnegie Institute of Washington,Washington, D.C., 525 p.
Barth, T.F.W. (1950) Volcanic Geology:Hot Springs and Geysers of Iceland, Publ. 587. Carnegie Institute of Washington, Washington, D.C., 174 p.
