Why do some regions have hot springs and geysers?
Quick Answer
Groundwater is heated by hot rock or magma underground and then forced back to the surface. Geysers erupt when pressure builds in a confined plumbing system.
The Full Story
Hot springs and geysers are common in volcanic or tectonically active regions where heat from below warms groundwater. In a hot spring, heated water rises quietly to the surface. In a geyser, water is trapped in narrow underground channels and superheated beyond the normal boiling point because of pressure. When the pressure suddenly drops, steam expands violently and water is blasted upward. Yellowstone National Park, which sits over a volcanic hotspot, is one of the world’s best-known geyser fields.
Key Facts
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"Why does the ground sometimes shoot boiling water into the air?"
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