2008 Q & A
June 18, 2008
Tell me about mudpots. How were the mudpots different in summer than in the winter? Dylan, 2nd grade, West Marion Elementary, McDowell Co and Jordan, 3rd grade, Holly Ridge Elementary, Wake County
Mudpots are acidic hot springs with a limited water supply. Hydrogen sulfide gas, rising from deep in the earth, is converted to sulfuric acid, which breaks down rock into clay. Various gases escape through the mud and cause it to bubble and plop. There is still research being done on whether mudpots are different in summer than in winter. In winter there is snow all around and the steam freezes on the trees and boardwalks around them. In summer, the ground and vegetation are exposed. But the greatest difference between summer and winter is that the crowds are much larger in summer!
How can steam come out of the ground? Why isn’t it lava? Edgardo, 5th grade, Grady Brown Elementary, Orange County
Rain and snow seep down several thousand feet below the surface of the earth, where it is then heated by the magma. Underground cracks and fissures allow the now-heated water to rise to produce hot springs and geysers. Magma is anywhere from 3 to 8 miles underground. During a volcanic eruption, magma rises through cracks in the earth, sometimes causing explosions. Once magma reaches the surface, it is called lava and would be considered a volcano, not a geyser.
What makes Old Faithful erupt regularly? How often does it erupt? How hot is the eruption water? Matthew and Hunter, 4th grade, Union Elementary, Lincoln County
Old Faithful erupts about 17 times per day, every day. The average interval between eruptions is about 92 minutes, and an eruption lasts 1½ to 5 minutes. 3700 to 8400 gallons of boiling water are shot out during an eruption, reaching a height of 106 to 184 feet. The water has been measured at 203 degrees F just prior to an eruption (water boils at 199 degrees F at this altitude). A geysers pattern of eruptions can change at any time, but Old Faithful got its name for its consistent performance. |
