Bubbling Sticks (Canterbury) EarthCache
Hidden : 11/30/2012
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


Background

A spring is a place where ground water naturally rises above the ground and usually forms a stream. If this happens in areas where there is limestone this water may return back into the ground through fissures, but here in the Styx catchment, there is no limestone so this doesn’t happen. If, when the spring forms there is no place for the water to run off, the spring will form a pond or boggy, marshy area. The water quality from the springs in this area is usually constant and supports an aquaculture.

The Styx catchment area has three types of springs present: Rheocrene, Limnocrene and Helocrene.

Rheocrene: this is a spring that is formed by water being forced out of the ground under pressure and this type of spring forms a stream or brook or the spring emerges into an already created stream. This definition goes back to Bornhauser (1913) who first described rheocrene springs as features where discharge emerges into a defined channel.
For a detailed diagram of how a rheocrene spring forms, please visit the springstewardship site here

Limnocrene: This type of spring happens where the water table is higher than the land and the spring forms a pond in a depression of the land. The water bubbles from the bottom of the basin or depression. The overflow from the spring then creates a stream as it flows from the pond. This doesn’t always happen as sometimes just a pond forms. These are fed from underground aquifiers and usually have a uniform temperature which allows them to support aquatic life that may be different to that of the stream it feeds into.
For a detailed diagram of how a Limnocrene spring forms, please visit the springstewardship site here

Helocrene: This is a marshy spring. This spring is where water seeps up through the soil or permeable rock and forms a bog or marshy spring. In the Styx area these were thought to be in existence but due to the draining work done to turn the area into farmland and suitable for housing, these are no longer evident.
For a detailed diagram of how a Helocrene spring forms, please visit the springstewardship site here

Task

 
 
 
At the given co-ordinates you will find the best of this type of spring in the area. The spring can safely be viewed from the viewing platform (right), but the spring can also be safely approached from the north-west side.


Your logging requirements:
1. Estimate how wide you think the springs are
2. Feel the water and report if it is cold or warm
3. Look closely and count how many springs (or vents) you can see in 2 minutes,
4. Describe at least two different of the above.
5. Name the type of spring you think you looking at and give reasons for your choice from the immediate area.
6. Optional but not necessary: It would be nice if you could post a picture of you and your GPS either examining a spring or testing the water temperature.

Please email me your answers and then feel free to log your visit without waiting for confirmation, but if your answers are slim, I will be asking for further information. Enjoy!

Sharkiefan has organised a lunchtime picnic event here on 13th October 2013 to celebrate International Earthcache Day. See International Earthcache Day 2013 (Christchurch) for further information.
Come and enjoy the fun!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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