Volcano heats high-mountain lake to 108 degrees

iceagenow.com ^ | 5-2-2011 | Robert Felix

[hugorand]

Last month, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) announced that the water temperature in the main crater of Taal volcano in the Philippines had risen from 86.9 degrees Fahrenheit to 88.7 degrees Fahrenheit (30.5C to 31.5C), a sign that the volcano might soon erupt.

This provides an example of how much heat a volcano can generate.

And this is not the only lake that's running hot.

On March 1st of this year, the water temperature in New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu crater lake reached an astounding 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit (41C).

Taal Volcano See larger image

This was just short of the highest temperature ever reached since the lake was re-established in 2002, say volcanologists from New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS).

"The highest recorded temperature was 42.5degC (108.5F) in May 2003," says GeoNet duty volcanologist Agnes Mazot.

"The temperature of Crater Lake is a measure of amount of volcanic heat coming from Ruapehu," Mazot added.

A fairly big puddle

"The crater lake is a fairly big puddle and if you can heat that up to 40C, it takes a fair bit of energy," says GNS Science co-ordinator Brad Scott.

A fairly big puddle indeed. A fair bit of energy indeed. Mt. Ruapehu's crater lake is about 1/4 mile wide and 1/3 mile long.

Not only is it a good-sized lake, it's almost completely surrounded by ice and snow.

By all rights, this high-mountain lake should be frozen solid. Instead, it's warmer than the average hot tub.

Do you know how much energy it takes to heat a hot tub to a mere 101 degrees? Depending on how much you use it, and whether you keep it covered, it can run $30, $40, even $50 per month just for the electricity or gas.

[hugorand]

Last paragraph: "We still have a lot to learn about underwater volcanoes, but while we're waiting, please stop blaming humans for heating the seas. We have nothing to do with it."

[wolfman23601]

I’ve actually advanced this theory myself. The center of earth itself is 8,000 degrees.

[DuncanWaring]

Millions of degrees!

</ Al Gore>

[9422WMR]

Oh noes, we’re domed/er doomed,
or maybe just heated?

[montanajoe]

They call Taal the Decade volcano...but it erupts more often than that. Usually lots of mudslides and hundreds of deaths. Its always amazed me how folks just kinda accept it...

[Othniel]

The New Zealand volcano did this a couple of decades ago. There was a flood, and a huge lahar that wiped out all manner of things, including a railroad bridge. In Iceland, there was an ice dam that broke when the volcano melted part of it, and there was a huge flood. This was back in the 90's. Serious stuff.

[Rembrandt]

Add a few natives, a bunch of potatoes, celery, corn, some chicken broth, salt, pepper. Come back in two days. Bring some bread.

[aruanan]

Good hot water at Glenwood Springs, CO:

The Yampah spring is located at the eastern end of our property. It has a daily flow of 3,500,000 gallons of water, at approximately 122° F/ 51° C. The source for the Yampah spring is south of the Colorado River in the Lookout Mountain and Grand Hogback areas. The water percolates through fractures in the bedrock formation into the Leadville aquifer. As this occurs, the water is heated by the geothermal gradient in the area.

Of course, it's cooled down to about 104°F for the hot end of the pool. It's great in the wintertime at night with snow falling.

[FrogMom]

Hot ping!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks FrogMom.

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[KoRn]

A naturally heated pool. Sounds like a terrific place for a swim! :p

[Cvengr]

Elsewhere, a wise person remarked today: