Intermittent spring
Encyclopedia
A rhythmic spring is a cold water
fluctuating spring
.
The largest in the world, "Intermittent Spring
" is located in Swift Creek
canyon
in Star Valley
, Wyoming
. Another major rhythmic spring is the Gihon Spring
in the City of David in Jerusalem Israel
, which is of great historical, archaeological, and cultural importance because it is what made possible the human settlement in ancient Jerusalem.
Kip Solomon, a hydrologist
at the University of Utah
, said, "We can't think of another explanation at the moment". Here's the theory
: As groundwater flows continuously into a cavern, it fills a narrow tube that leads out. As it pours over the high point of the tube, it creates a siphon effect, sucking water out of the chamber. Eventually air rushes in and breaks the siphon. The great great grandfather of the Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner
is credited with the discovery. Gardner says, "He was up there logging. He went up and found a nice little place to get some fresh water
. It was intermittent. It went, and stopped. So it was pretty amazing". When the University of Utah conducted and finished their studies, Solomon concluded that "The spring water's gas
content has now been tested at the University of Utah. The data strongly suggests the water was exposed to air underground; strong support for the siphon theory."
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
fluctuating spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
.
The largest in the world, "Intermittent Spring
Intermittent Spring (Wyoming)
Intermittent Spring, located in Swift Creek canyon in Star Valley, near Afton, Wyoming, is the largest rhythmic spring in the world.The great great grandfather of the Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner is credited with the discovery. Gardner says, "He was up there logging. He went up and found a...
" is located in Swift Creek
Swift Creek
Swift Creek is a creek in western Wyoming. Swift Creek rises in the Salt River Range and initially runs north before turning sharply westward. The creek then winds down through Swift Creek Canyon and passes through the town of Afton, Wyoming before emptying into the Salt River....
canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
in Star Valley
Star Valley
Star Valley is located in the United States between the Salt River Range in western Wyoming and the Webster Range of eastern Idaho. The altitude of the valley ranges from to . Three major Wyoming rivers, the Salt River, the Greys River and the Snake River meet near Alpine Junction at Palisades...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. Another major rhythmic spring is the Gihon Spring
Gihon Spring
The Gihon Spring was the main source of water for the City of David, the original site of Jerusalem. One of the world's major intermittent springs - and a reliable water source that made human settlement possible in ancient Jerusalem - the spring was not only used for drinking water, but also...
in the City of David in Jerusalem Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, which is of great historical, archaeological, and cultural importance because it is what made possible the human settlement in ancient Jerusalem.
Siphon theory
ProfessorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Kip Solomon, a hydrologist
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, said, "We can't think of another explanation at the moment". Here's the theory
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
: As groundwater flows continuously into a cavern, it fills a narrow tube that leads out. As it pours over the high point of the tube, it creates a siphon effect, sucking water out of the chamber. Eventually air rushes in and breaks the siphon. The great great grandfather of the Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner
Rulon Gardner
Rulon Gardner is an American Olympian who competed in the 2000 Olympic games, winning the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling upon defeating Russian Aleksandr Karelin, who was previously undefeated in 13 years of international competition...
is credited with the discovery. Gardner says, "He was up there logging. He went up and found a nice little place to get some fresh water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
. It was intermittent. It went, and stopped. So it was pretty amazing". When the University of Utah conducted and finished their studies, Solomon concluded that "The spring water's gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
content has now been tested at the University of Utah. The data strongly suggests the water was exposed to air underground; strong support for the siphon theory."