The how-to of geysers

Two prominent geyser scientists published a paper in 2017 that can help people understand the complicated processes that make geysers gush, as well as why they are so unique and difficult to understand.

Shaul Hurwitz, of the U.S. Geological Survey, and Michael Manga, of the University of California, Berkeley, published “The Fascinating and Complex Dynamics of Geyser Eruptions” in the Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences in 2017.

Although the paper goes into great depth for fellow scientists, it also reveals some interesting facts for laymen. For example, the paper noted anything that changes the geyser’s water flow, how quickly the water is recharged or a change in temperature could affect eruptions. Deformations of the earth’s crust, varying weather, nearby geyser eruptions and distant earthquakes can all change the interval between spouting.

The scientists also point to clues as to why Steamboat may be able to blast water so high: “Geysers with deep, large reservoirs lead to large quantities of thermal energy converted to kinetic energy and hence more powerful eruptions. Large water volumes permit longer eruptions. Constrictions in the conduit accelerate fluids (up to the sound speed) so that narrowing conduits favor higher eruption heights.”

In controlled lab experiments, they noted that: “In general, even modest complexity in laboratory models (as in numerical models), such as a single bend in the conduit or multiple reservoirs supplying water to the conduit, can lead to irregular eruption intervals. The regularity of many natural geysers is thus all the more remarkable.”