What Are Geysers?
A geyser is a special type of hot spring that erupts periodically. For both geysers and hot springs, groundwater circulating at depth becomes heated by the hot rock below and moves by convection, toward the surface. As it rises, it follows zones of weakness that become channels leading upward. In a geyser, these channels have constrictions which prevent the water from circulating freely to the surface where the heat would escape. The water becomes progressively hotter at depth, exceeding the surface boiling point (199 F., 93 C). Yet it will not vaporize in the geyser tube at this temperature because of the greatly increased pressure exerted by the enormous weight of the overlying water. Bubbling upward, steam expands as it nears the top of the water column until the bubbles are too large and numerous to pass freely through the tight spots. At a critical point, the confined bubbles actually lift the water above, causing the geyser to overflow. This decreases pressure on the system and v
Geysers are underground springs which spout up columns of steam and boiling water from time to time. They form when cold water finds its way from the surface of the earth deep into the rock below. As the water travels, it finds a crack in the rock or wears away a crevice to make its own channel. The water flows deep into the ear
