Geyser
Geyser
Geyser (/ˈɡaɪzər/; from Icelandic geysir, "gusher") is a spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam.
Etymology
The word Geyser originates from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush".
Definition
A Geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. The formation of a geyser is due to particular hydrogeological conditions, which exist in only a few places on Earth.
Mechanism
The Geyser effect is due to the combination of three key elements: heat, water, and a plumbing system. A geyser's plumbing system is made up of a reservoir to hold the water while it is being heated, a vent from the reservoir to the surface, and a constriction just below the vent, which gives the geyser its characteristic of periodic eruptions.
Related Terms
- Hot Spring: A spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust.
- Hydrothermal Vent: A fissure on the seafloor from which geothermally heated water issues.
- Fumarole: An opening in a planet's crust, often in areas surrounding volcanoes, which emits steam and gases.
- Mudpot: A sort of hot spring or fumarole consisting mostly of boiling mud.
- Sinter: A deposit of fine-grained mineral matter that precipitates from hot or cold water.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Geyser
- Wikipedia's article - Geyser
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski