The Springs of APEC EarthCache
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To log this cache, you will need a plastic measuring cup, a clock
with a seconds hand and a camera. The hike consists of at least 0.8
miles each way on a flat but often muddy trail. There is one water
crossing so be aware of this after rain.
The above coordinates will take you to the first of two fresh water
springs located in Alley Pond Park. This spring is easy to miss.
However, if you look closely, you will be able to see the sand
being churned by the under spring. The background picture on the
cache page shows this churning but it's difficult to see in stop
motion. It is very noticeable at the site.
The additional waypoint coordinates will take you to the larger
spring. This is also known as an artesian aquifer as it is
groundwater that will flow upwards out of a well without the need
for pumping. As the well brings the water above the water on the
ground, it is a much more evident to see.
A spring is a place where groundwater flows out of the ground.
This is usually caused when the flow rate of the water underground
is higher than the capacity to move this water. Springs are a
result of an aquifer being filled to the point that the water
overflows onto the land surface. An aquifer is an underground layer
of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials
(gravel, sand, silt, or clay).
Springs come in two kinds:
- Those which discharge intermittently are called ephemeral
springs. These are often due to weather; either too much rain or
melting of snow such as in the spring. Maybe that’s how they got
their names.
- Those which are continuous are called perennial springs. These
are due to constant pressure on an aquifer that needs
release.
Below you will see a picture of the water cycle showing where
springs fit into the water table.
These two kinds are then classified by the volume of water they
discharge. The larges springs are called “first-magnitude,” and
consist of >100 gallons per minute (2800 liters per second).
“Eighth magnitude” has the lowest flow of less than 1 pint per
minute (8 milliliters per second). See the below chart for more
information.
As you can see, the water here is very clear. This implies that the
water has been moving through the aquifer for sometime. As water
moves through the aquifer, it is naturally filtered. If surface
water enters the aquifer near a spring, the water can move quickly
through the aquifer and discharge at the spring vent. The discharge
of highly colored water from springs can indicate that water is
flowing quickly through large channels within the aquifer without
being filtered through the soil.
To log this cache, please do the following:
1) Take a picture at the additional waypoints coordinate with the
large spring and post it with your log.
See Example
2) Use your measuring cup and determine how long it takes to fill
up. Multiple your volume by the number of this size containers it
would take to catch all the water. (Ex. I estimate it would take 8
to 10 generic
2 cup measuring cups to capture all the water flowing from the
site. So by my example if I capture 1 cup of water per second, it
would be flowing 8-10 cups per second total. Use this to calculate
gallon per minute). This will be a weak estimation of the flow rate
per time. E-mail me the magnitude of this spring based on the above
criteria.
Note for winter: I do not know if the spring freezes in the
cold. If it does, this cache can not be completed at those times.
Please keep this in mind when doing it in the winter months. I will
allow the first person who finds it in the winter frozen to log a
find as I'd like to see a picture of it frozen.
References:
http://www.answers.com/topic/spring-water-2?cat=technology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_%28hydrosphere%29
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesprings.html
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)