Minersville Artesian EarthCache
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Groundwater flows similar to surface water by flowing laterally
from higher to lower areas and toward discharge points such as
lakes and rivers. It also tends to flow toward areas where water is
withdrawn, such as wells. Groundwater flow may move only a few
inches per day. Or, on the other hand, in areas with porous, sandy
soils, water may move quickly through the ground – as much as 100
feet per day.
This is the case with much of Ashland County. The northern half
makes up the former lake bed of the ancient Lake Duluth. Glacial
Lake Duluth was a proglacial lake that formed in the Lake Superior
drainage basin as the Laurentian Glacier retreated. This created
ideal conditions for artesian wells, such as the many found in
Ashland and Washburn due to its abundant clay and sand deposits.
The Copper Falls Aquifer provides the water source for this
artesian well. Porous stone is sandwiched between a top and bottom
layer of an impermeable substance like clay or rock. This keeps the
water pressure high, so that when you get to a point below the
entryway of the flow, there is enough pressure (artesian pressure)
to bring the water up. The water in the aquifer is also under
enough pressure that, when the aquifer is tapped by a well such as
this, the water rises up the well bore to a level that is above the
top of the aquifer called the potentiometric surface.
The temperature of the water from artesian wells is generally
constant because of its depth. Depending on the well depth the
water temperature can be a few degrees above the annual mean
temperature. The water temperature decreases about 1 °F for each 65
feet of depth to the well. The mean annual temperature for the
Ashland, WI region is 41 °F. Some uses of these temperature
differences have been to “heat” homes (heat pump) and or cool
them.
TO LOG THIS CACHE: 1) Determine the output of the well in gallons
per minute (gpm) and/or measure the temperature of the water (°F)
compared to the ambient air temperature (list both temps in your
email).
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