PEALE.] PECULIARITIES OF GEYSER ACTION. 423 



CHAPTER XI. 



Peculiarities of Geyser Eruptions. 

 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GEYSERS. 



In the Iceland geysers tlie eruptions assume a simpler form than in 

 our own region, and Bunsen's theory appears in the main to be a suifi- 

 cient explanation of the action. The question is, whether or not this 

 theory will satisfactorily account for the differences observed in the 

 geysers of the Yellowstone National Park. There are in the park four 

 classes of geysers, "when they are grouped according to the character- 

 istics of their eruptions, without regard to the lengths of the intervals. 

 In the following table we give this classification: 



Characteristics of ernptiona. 



Geysers. 



Geysers in ■wHcli the action is confined to one ernption, i. e., a, distinct period of 

 ■water ernption, characterized by a succession of jets, which follow each other 

 rapidly, aud are not followed by a marked steam period. 



Old Faithfnl. 

 Bee Hive. 



2. Geysers in which the emptions consist of a single -water period, as in the preceding 

 cases, but which are followed by a marked steam period of considerable length. 



Castle. 



3. Geysers -which have several water eruptions, separated by an interval of several 

 minutes or hours, while the regular interval is from a day to seveial days. 



Grand. 

 Giantess. 



4. Geysers with water periods as just stated, but which are followed by a marked 

 steam period. 



Giant. 

 Union. 



EXPLANATION OF DIFFERENCES. 



In the foregoing table we have included only the most prominent of 

 the geysers. With the limited data at baud we do not presume to offer 

 any final explanations of the differences that we have just tabulated. 

 We are of the opinion, however, that at the bottom of the exj)lanations, 

 lies the question of the water supply and the arrangement and shape of 

 the tube and passages, be they simply caverns or enlargements oi' the 

 tubes. In the case of Old Faithful Geyser these are most simple. 

 The supply of water must be regular and constant, and the tube of such 

 shape and dimensions that the same conditions recur with great regu- 

 larity. The Castle Geyser differs from Old Faithful and the Bee Hive 

 mainly in the fact that it has a long steam period, during which the 

 steam pours out or is pushed from the geyser throat with great violence 

 and a terrific noise. There appear to be only two possible explanations 

 of this difference, viz, either an accumulation of immense volumes of 

 steam in the castle, or an instantaneous formation of steam throughout 

 the length of the geyser tube. The former, to our mind, is untenable, 

 because it seems impossible that the water, which is exliausted in fifteen 

 minutes, should exert enough power to keep down the immense amount 

 of steam that violently escapes without cessation for more than an hour. 

 According to Bunsen's theory, it can be readily explained. The relief 

 afforded by the first i)art of the erui)tions allows the superheated water 

 to rise rai)idly, and before it can reach the top or orifice of the tube it is 



