geysers
Hot water jets
Geysers are hot springs that periodically erupt, shooting columns of water and steam into the air.
The eruptions occur when underground water, heated by volcanic activity, builds enough pressure to burst through a narrow opening.
Old Faithful in Yellowstone is the most famous example.
Figuratively, anything that spurts upward dramatically may be called a geyser: Blood geysered from the wound.
Violent sudden release
- spoutProjecting pouring tube
- jetForced fluid stream
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
- blastSudden forceful burst
surge · plume · gush · fountain · outburst · spurt · ejection · discharge
Gaseous form of liquid
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
- mistFine airborne moisture
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
scalding · heat · plume · rising · billowing · sulfurous · hissing · roaring
Heated groundwater emerging naturally
- thermal waterNaturally heated underground water
- mineral depositsNatural rock-bound resources
- sinterHeat-fuse without liquefying
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
travertine · fumaroles · hydrogen sulfide · sulfur · thermophiles · extremophiles · alkaline · acidic
Punctual Wyoming geyser
- YellowstoneOriginal U.S. national park
- IcelandNordic island republic
- RotoruaGeothermal city, North Island
- KamchatkaFar eastern Russian peninsula
national park · tourist attraction · geotourism · geological wonder · thermal features · mudpots · boardwalk · predictable
Heat harvested from underground
- magmaMolten rock underground
- volcanicOf fiery mountain origin
- tectonicOf crustal forces
- earth's crustPlanet's outermost solid layer
heat source · underground · subsurface · plumbing system · pressure chamber · conduit · superheated · boiling point
eruption
Violent sudden release
blast · surge · plume · gush · fountain · outburst · spurt · ejection · discharge · shooting
vapor
Gaseous form of liquid
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
- mistFine airborne moisture
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
boiling · scalding · heat · plume · rising · billowing · sulfurous · hissing · roaring · rumbling
hot springs
Heated groundwater emerging naturally
- thermal waterNaturally heated underground water
- mineral depositsNatural rock-bound resources
- sinterHeat-fuse without liquefying
silica · travertine · fumaroles · hydrogen sulfide · sulfur · thermophiles · extremophiles · alkaline · acidic · mineralization
Old Faithful
Punctual Wyoming geyser
- YellowstoneOriginal U.S. national park
- IcelandNordic island republic
- RotoruaGeothermal city, North Island
Kamchatka · national park · tourist attraction · geotourism · geological wonder · thermal features · mudpots · boardwalk · predictable · conservation
geothermal energy
Heat harvested from underground
earth's crust · heat source · underground · subsurface · plumbing system · pressure chamber · conduit · superheated · boiling point · groundwater
- ScandinaviaNorway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland
- natural waterssprings, hot springs, streams, creeks, ponds
- YellowstoneOld Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, hot spring, Yellowstone River, grizzly bear
- Extreme Habitatsblack smokers, sulfur springs, fumaroles, deep ocean, ocean trenches
- natural springshot springs, mineral springs, thermal springs, mountain springs, sulfur springs
- Nordic attractionsnorthern lights, Blue Lagoon, Svalbard, aurora borealis, midnight sun
geysersglaciers
Slow-moving ice masses
icebergs · frozen lakes · ice fields · permafrost · ice caves