Old Faithful

Old Faithful (The Old Faithful ) is one of the most famous geysers of the earth. He is a nozzle- shaped Geyser, located in Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (USA). Officially him members of the Washburn - Langford - Doane Expedition in 1870 had discovered the first white people. After two days of observation Henry D. Washburn gave the geyser its name because its eruptions occurred frequently and regularly. Since its discovery it has broken out over a million copies.

Old Faithful is located at an altitude of 2240 m above sea level.

History

History of discovery see Washburn - Langford - Doane Expedition.

Studies on the cones of eruption of the Old Faithful suggest that this geyser centuries was inactive. The period of inactivity was long enough to allow trees to grow in the vicinity of hydrothermal source. Later, the renewed activity killed with sinter deposits the trees, some were petrified. Based on the C14 method, the age of these trees was estimated. After these assessments, Old Faithful Geyser can be active as hardly longer than 300 years. During 750 years before that, he will have been a hot spring. On the other hand Old Faithful sits on a much older sinter formation, which must be from a senior source at the same location.

Eruptions

Old Faithful is one of the nozzle-like geysers that have a narrow jet of water. His eruption behavior is independent of other geysers in the area, because it has no direct connection to other geysers. The Tagöffnung the eruption channel measures 0.6 m × 1 m. The geyser has a reservoir that consists of at least two chambers ( two chambers are detected by probes / soundings ). The diameter of the constriction in the eruption channel immediately above the upper chamber at a depth of 7.31 m (lower end of the throat ) is 10.5 cm. The eruption channel is lined with coarse silicate sintering. The eruption column reached a height of about 30 to 55 m. An eruption usually lasts between 1.5 and 5 minutes of his typical foreplay, 14000-32000 liters of water are expelled per eruption. The Old Faithful is thus one of the big geysers. From Steamboat Geyser it can be surpassed still two to three times. High eruptions of Steamboat tually occur so rarely that he by no means has the meaning that makes the Old Faithful magnet for tourists.

Between 1983 and 1994, researchers through various measurements in the vent of Old Faithful. In 22 feet of water, they measured a water temperature of 118 ° C. The highest recorded temperature was 129 ° C. The temperature inside the Earth below the geyser varies by up to 15 degrees. Contrary to some assertions can be - despite some regularity - by Old Faithful not set the clock. Are 30 to 120 minutes between eruptions; currently usually 65-92 minutes averaging 91 minutes. Predictions are accurate to five minutes to complete, but may differ ( several small eruptions ) by 20 minutes, even after extensive " foreplay ". The eruption interval is measured since the 1870s. At the beginning it was on average 61 minutes. The magnification of the interval is due in part to various earthquakes, but also to the increasing drought. In Yellowstone National Park only of Riverside Geyser erupts regularly.

It turned out that his outburst heights and intervals at the very least vary from all observed geysers. Since then, he has never missed a periodic outbreak. The next outbreak is estimated using a formula of Dr. George D. Marler, integrating the last interval, the last eruption duration, onset time and some other parameters. This time will be announced at the Visitor Center ( Visitor Center ).

Eruption dynamics

Old Faithful is a geyser of model A to John Sargent Rinehart with slight modifications (double reservoir ). The water rises between the eruptions to a height of max. 6.7 m below the surface at, so only very slightly above the constriction. The eruption dynamics with the " foreplay " can be explained as follows:

The water in the reservoir below the constriction to the eruption channel is replenished after an eruption at least by a relatively cool aquifer immediately below the constriction ( more unexplored leads are possible) and heated to high temperatures. It's such circumstances as in a pressure cooker, the temperature at which water boils at atmospheric pressure is exceeded due to the pressure of the water column in the reservoir and canal system. Eventually steam rises through the throat and on the prelude begins. With the rise of the vapor pressure of the water column decreases in eruption channel water into the upper chamber begins to boil and drives a surge of water from the eruption channel that is visible to the observer even as a fountain. However, this Voreruption collapses again. Such Voreruptionen can be repeated several times: water is expelled from the eruption channel and the upper chamber, the pressure in the lower chamber decreases. Eventually, the boiling point is in the lower chamber by the decreasing pressure is achieved, and the water is converted from liquid phase to the vapor phase and thereby occupies the approximately 1,500 - fold volume. Thus, the main eruption is started. All the water on the vapor bubble is expelled through the channel eruption into the air. If the vapor bubble is consumed, stop the eruption.

Old Faithful Inn

To meet the large number of tourists meet, leaving the parking charge 1903/ 04 build next to the geyser Old Faithful Inn. The building of the inn is called the largest log building in the world, however, this is unsecured. Today, visitors are more accommodation and catering options available, as well as souvenir shops, repair shops and a clinic.

Trivia

In the early days of the National Park Old Faithful was also used as laundry:

" Old Faithful will occasionally be degraded, in which one uses it as a laundry. Clothing that is placed during the rest period in the crater is thrown and thoroughly washed when the eruption takes place. General Sheridan's men discovered in 1882 that linen and cotton fabrics remained undamaged by the action of water, whereas woolen clothes were torn to shreds. "