Why is spring rainy

Both dolomite and limestone fracture relatively easily. When weak carbonic acid formed by rainwater percolating through organic matter in the soil enters these fractures it dissolves bedrock.

When it reaches a horizontal crack or a layer of non-dissolving rock such as sandstone or shale, it begins to cut sideways. As the process continues, the water hollows out more rock, eventually admitting an airspace, at which point the spring stream can be considered a cave.

This process often takes tens to hundreds of thousands of years to complete. The amount of water that flows from springs depends on many factors, including the size of the caverns within the rocks, the water pressure in the aquifer, the size of the spring basin , and the amount of rainfall.

Human activities also can influence the volume of water that discharges from a spring-groundwater withdrawals in an area can cause water levels in the aquifer system to drop and ultimately decreasing the flow from the spring.

Most people probably think of a spring as being like a pool of water—and normally that is the case. But, as this picture of the wall of the Grand Canyon in Arizona shows, springs can occur when geologic, hydrologic, or human forces cut into the underground layers of soil and rock where water is in movement.

Water from springs usually is remarkably clear. Water from some springs, however, may be "tea-colored. Its red iron coloring and metals enrichment are caused by groundwater coming in contact with naturally occurring minerals present as a result of ancient volcanic activity in the area. In Florida, many surface waters contain natural tannic acids from organic material in subsurface rocks, and the color from these streams can appear in springs.

If surface water enters the aquifer near a spring, the water can move quickly through the aquifer and discharge at the spring vent. Influx of metal-rich groundwater from natural springs foreground to Cement Creek, Colorado background. The quality of the water in the local groundwater system will generally determine the quality of spring water. The quality of water discharged by springs can vary greatly because of factors such as the quality of the water that recharges the aquifer and the type of rocks with which the groundwater is in contact.

The rate of flow and the length of the flowpath through the aquifer affects the amount of time the water is in contact with the rock, and thus, the amount of minerals that the water can dissolve. So, should you feel confident about whipping out your canteen and filling it with cool and refreshing spring water? No, you should be cautious. The temperature of an Ozark spring comes from its passing through rock at a mean annual temperature of 56 degrees Fahrenheit.

The water is crudely filtered in the rock, and the time spent underground allows debris and mud to fall out of suspension. If underground long enough, lack of sunlight causes most algae and water plants to die. However, microbes, viruses, and bacteria do not die just from being underground, nor are any agricultural or industrial pollutants removed.

By the way, no, this man is not getting a drink from this tempting spring. Happy Greenlanders and tourists enjoy the unique experience of dipping in the hot springs while enjoying drifting icebergs floating by on Uunartoq Island at the far southern tip of Greenland.

We're betting the number of places you can view icebergs while sitting in hot springs is very small! Thermal springs are ordinary springs except that the water is warm and, in some places, hot, such as in the bubbling mud springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Many thermal springs occur in regions of recent volcanic activity and are fed by water heated by contact with hot rocks far below the surface. Even where there has been no recent volcanic action, rocks become warmer with increasing depth.

In such areas water may migrate slowly to considerable depth, warming as it descends through rocks deep in the Earth. If it then reaches a large crevice that offers a path of less resistance, it may rise more quickly than it descended. Water that does not have time to cool before it emerges forms a thermal spring.

And, yes, warm springs can even coexist with icebergs , as these happy Greenlanders can tell you. Earth's water is always in movement, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.

Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist who heads the climate analysis section at th e National Center for Atmospheric Research NCAR , explains that spring brings numerous thunderstorms and tornados. In the U. This can often lead to tremendous thunderstorms and tornado outbreaks. Climate change-induced global warming has provoked a shift in seasons around the world. With shorter winters and relatively early springs, rising temperatures are also disturbing weather patterns: As the world warms up, more water evaporates, leading to more moisture in the atmosphere over the oceans.

This triggers more intense rain and can spark more storms and increase the risk of spring flooding. Conversely, balmier months may bring less rain in the future — it all depends on where you live.

Register or Log In. The Magazine Shop. Login Register Stay Curious Subscribe. Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news. Remember elementary school? During science class, you studied the water cycle. Water was evaporated and gathered in the clouds until the clouds became too heavy to hold it. Rain, sleet or snow would fall from the clouds and end up on earth again.

You may have even created a terrarium to demonstrate the principle. The basics of how rain is formed are still the same as they were in elementary school. The water droplets evaporate and become ice particles that combine together in the clouds.