Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: air blowing out of an old mine



Geysers work because hot rocks unusually near the surface because of recent
volcanism heat the water to way over 212 F, then as the water expands and some
oozes out at the surface the pressure on the hot water near the rocks is
reduced leaving the remaining water superheated, so that it flashes into steam.
These would generally not be the mechanisms for drafts in caves or mines.

On Wed, 16 Sep 1998 15:08:13 -0400 Herbert H Gottlieb said:
Perhaps the rising air in the mine can be compared with
rising water and steam from a geyser. As the water is heated
by the high temperatures (far above water's boiling point)
below the surface it drives out the cool water near the surface
with an almost explosive force. The temperature of the
air above the surface is irrelevant.

Herb Gottlieb from New York City
(Where geysers errupt when water mains rupture)