Geothermal Features in National Parks

Activity Source: National Park Service

 

Grade Levels: 4-9

Background

Geothermal features are formed by heat from beneath the Earth’s surface, creating amazing sights like geysers, hot springs, volcanoes, and tar pits. Many of these features are now in protected areas designated as National Parks, allowing people to experience them in their natural state. These areas also help scientists study Earth’s processes, while conserving habitats for the unique ecosystems supported by geothermal features and promoting environmental education. In this activity, you will model how geysers work.

Materials

  • Squeeze bottle with narrow spout
  • Water (cold and warm)
  • Antacid tablets
  • Thermometer (optional)
  • Materials to modify your geyser design

Procedure

  1. Optionally, record the temperature of the cold and warm water you will be using.
  2. Fill a squeeze bottle to the top with cold water.
  3. Drop 3–4 antacid tablets into the bottle and quickly close the lid and observe what happens.
  4. Empty and rinse out the bottle.
  5. Predict what will happen if you use warm water.
  6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with warm water.
  7. Consider what other factors might affect the geyser (make it erupt higher or lower).
  8. The antacid tablets carbonate the water and cause the model to erupt, but only some geysers in volcanic settings have carbonated water.
    • Learn more how geysers erupt.
    • Think about modifications you could make to your model so it is more like a real geyser.
    • If possible, test out your modifications.

Analysis

  1. Discuss your results with your classmates— how did the temperature of the water affect the geyser’s eruption?
  2. Discuss your modifications with your classmates.
    • Which do you think is most accurate based on what you learned about how geysers erupt.
    • If you tested the modifications, how effective were they?

Further Steps

Use the interactive map of Geothermal Processes & Features to explore National Parks that contain them.

Read more about Yellowstone National Park, which contains an extraordinary collection of over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, and over 500 geysers.

NGSS Connections

  • SEP: Developing and Using Models
  • DCI: ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems
  • CCC: Cause and Effect

SDG Connections