Old Faithful slowing down by Zuzana Zelenakova

The geyser with a poetical name Old Faithful is known to many and it constantly draws tourists to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It was named back in 1870 and thus is the first geyser in the park to receive name. During the eruptions the boiling water reaches the height from 30 to 55 m. Although it is not the tallest or largest geyser in the park it is much more predictable. The eruptions occur in approximately 90 minute intervals, but from time to time it can change. Generally, the longer an eruption, the longer the geyser will take to recharge before the next eruption. It is interesting that in the past the intervals were significantly shorter and increased gradually over the years. Earthquakes in 1959, 1975 and 1983 contributed to the longer period between two eruptions, which was more than an hour and half afterwards. And according to the new research conducted by Shaul Hurwitz also several years of drought did their part. Hurwirtz spent nine years in total studying five geysers in Yellowstone National Park including the famous Old Faithful. He says droughts caused the level of water supply of Old Fathful go down and thus lengthened the whole cycle of the geyser. "Coupled with this decrease in precipitation, we see an increase in eruption intervals with all the geysers we analyzed," said Shaul Hurwitz. It is highly probable that the interval will further increase with the current climate conditions in the region. "Our grandchildren will have to wait longer for Old Faithful to erupt," added Hurwitz. Well, hopefully they will be more patient with this geothermal wonder than some visitors today. "The one comment the naturalists hear a lot when they tell people the prediction is 'That long?'"says Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews. "Some people don't want to wait."

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_sc/yellowstone_drought;_ylt=AhpBJPuAKSEAzVUmsqwEPcGs0NUE

by Zuzana Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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