UK Geothermal Springs

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There are several geothermal springs in the UK:

[edit] UK Hot Springs

A hot spring can be defined in many ways. For example, one can find the phrase hot spring defined as

  • any geothermal spring[1]
  • a spring with water temperatures above its surroundings[2]
  • a natural spring with water temperature above body temperature (normally between 36.5°C and 37.5°C, that is, between 97.8°F and 99.5°F ) [3]
  • a natural spring with warm water above body temperature[4]
  • a thermal spring with water warmer than 98°F (37°C)[5][6] [7]
  • a natural spring of water greater than 70°F (21.1°C) (synonymous with thermal spring) [8][9][10][11]
  • natural discharge of groundwater with elevated temperatures[12]
  • a type of thermal spring in which hot water is brought to the surface. The water temperature of a hot spring is usually 6.5ºC (11.7°F) or more above mean air temperature. [13][14] Note that by this definition, "thermal spring" is not synomous with the term "hot spring".
  • a spring whose hot water is brought to the surface (synonymous with a thermal spring). The water temperature of the spring is usually 15°F (8°C)[15] or more above the mean air temperature.[16]
  • a spring with water above the core human body temperature (36.7°C or 98.06°F).[17]
  • a spring with water above average ambient ground temperature[18]is a definition favored by some.
  • a spring with water temperatures above 50°C (122°F)[19]

The related term "warm spring" is defined as a spring with water temperature less than a hot spring by many sources, although Pentecost et al (2003)[20] suggest that the phrase "warm spring" is not useful and should be avoided. The US NOAA Geophysical Data Center defines a "warm spring" as having water between 20°C and 50°C (between 68°F and 122°F).

By many of these definitions, the springs in Bath are the only hot springs in the UK. However, there is not universal agreement, clearly.

[edit] References

  1. ^ MSN Encarta definition of hot spring
  2. ^ Miriam-Webster Online dictionary definition of hot spring
  3. ^ Wordsmyth definition of hot spring
  4. ^ American Heritage dictionary, fourth edition (2000) definition of hot spring
  5. ^ Note: 98°F is actually 36.7°C
  6. ^ Infoplease definition of hot spring
  7. ^ Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. definition of hot spring
  8. ^ Wordnet 2.0 definition of hot spring
  9. ^ Interlingua Online dictionary definition of hot spring
  10. ^ Rhymezone definition of hot spring
  11. ^ Lookwayup definition of hot spring
  12. ^ Columbia Encyclopedia, sixth edition, article on hot spring
  13. ^ Physical Geology, 6th Edition, Don L. Leet, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1982
  14. ^ A thermal spring is defined as a spring that brings warm or hot water to the surface. by Physical Geology, 6th Edition, Don L. Leet, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1982 and Leet states that there are two types of thermal springs; hot springs and warm springs.
  15. ^ Actually, 15°F is 8.3°C
  16. ^ Lake and water glossary defintion of hot spring
  17. ^ [http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/rp/rp2_abst_e?cjes_e03-083_40_ns_nf_cjes What is a hot spring?, Allan Pentecost, B. Jones, and R.W. Renaut Can. J. Earth Sci./Rev. can. sci. Terre 40(11): 1443-1446 (2003) provides a critical discussion of the definition of a hot spring.]
  18. ^ For example, ambient ground temperature is usually around 55–57°F (13–14°C) in the eastern United States
  19. ^ US NOAA Geophysical Data Center definition
  20. ^ [http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/rp/rp2_abst_e?cjes_e03-083_40_ns_nf_cjes What is a hot spring?, Allan Pentecost, B. Jones, and R.W. Renaut Can. J. Earth Sci./Rev. can. sci. Terre 40(11): 1443-1446 (2003) provides a critical discussion of the definition of a hot spring.]
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