In this month's lesson we will be learning about hot springs, how they form and what kinds of life thrive in the nearly inhospitable conditions of these unique hydrothermal features.
Hot springs are formed by the circulation of superheated water rising from earth’s crust and the cooler water on the surface sinking back down through the ground. The water comes into contact with very hot rocks that are close to magma chambers. This is more common in areas with volcanic activity, but can occur in other areas as well. The temperature of the earth’s crust naturally increases with depth, this is called the Geothermal Gradient. The deeper water percolates through the crust, the more likely it will come into contact with superheated rocks and push to the surface to form a hot spring. Capturing the energy of Geothermal Heat is used across the globe to generate heat and electricity.
Pictured Above: A hot spring in Yellowstone National Park with a red/orange shallow exterior and green/blue deeper interior. The color of the water is affected by microorganisms known as thermophiles.
Hot springs can be home to microscopic organisms known as thermophiles. “Thermo” meaning heat and “phile” meaning lover. These organisms thrive in hot springs, such as the ones in Yellowstone National Park. When trillions of them gather in the hot springs, they create an amazing display of color. This allows us to visualize the temperature of the water. Yellow/pale areas are the hottest water. Orange, green and blue colors are progressively cooler temperatures. Thermophiles thrive in the boiling, acidic conditions, but humans don’t! Please use caution if you decide to visit. Adhere to all posted safety regulations, do not touch the water or bacterial mats, stay on designated trails or boardwalks, supervise children and pets at all times and do not litter! Hydrothermal areas such as hot springs are beautiful, but very dangerous.
Pictured Above: Indentations of animal hooves in the bed of a hotspring at Yellowstone National Park. Hot springs can be dangerously hot and acidic, too extreme for humans and most animals to withstand. However, for the native deer and bison populations at Yellowstone, they can travese these hot springs with relative ease.
Sources:
Britannica Editors. "hot spring". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Oct. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/science/hot-spring.
National Park Service. “Hot Springs/Geothermal Features - Geology (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.nps.gov, 10 Feb. 2020, www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/hot-springs.htm.
“Grand Prismatic Spring (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.nps.gov, www.nps.gov/places/000/grand-prismatic-spring.htm.
Enter your email below to stay up to date with 'Science is Art'! New lessons are posted online on the first of every month.
If you like physical media and/or snailmail, you can recieve an exclusive 'Science is Art' postcard mailed right to your door every month by subscribing to Sharkbait Photos StampFans! The postcard images cannot be viewed or purchased anywhere else. Sign up soon to be sent this month's lesson!