Ebbing and Flowing Spring - Rogersville, TN
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 36° 25.546 W 082° 57.328
17S E 324700 N 4032950
This freshwater spring exhibits cyclical water flow rates going from a trickle to several hundred gallons per minute roughly every three hours.
Waymark Code: WM6MP6
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 06/22/2009
Views: 6
Other information sources have reported that: "Ebbing and Flowing Spring is one of only two known springs in the world to exhibit tidal characteristics with a predictable regularity. During a period of 2 hours and 47 minutes, the spring's flow ranges from an indiscernible trickle to 500 gallons per minute. This phenomenon is not understood, but has it generated much speculation." (Wikipedia, Earthcache GC1JYY3)
As an engineer, I have thought how this observed phenomena could be occuring and realized that a siphon was involved. The hillside above the spring has a large cavern space which is continually filling with water from rain or other underground flow. From this cavern, there is a path with an upward, then downward bend which then continues to the spring outlet at the ground level. Water fills the cavern until its liquid level is higher than the top of the exiting bend. A siphon results which quickly pulls the water out of the cavern until air breaks the vacuum. Therefore, flows of a trickle to a gush are observed in a regular cycle. Zoom in on the illustration in the gallery for a visual explanation.
See also an 1823 book on physics "Lectures on select subjects in mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics" by James Ferguson, David Brewster for a similar explaination with two caverns to have a ebbing spring with a continual (not a trickle) flow at its minimum rate. Scanned by Google Books, although the illustrations are chopped off.
Public or Private Land?: Private
Public Land Fees?: 0
Private Land access?: The spring is privately owned by descendants of Thomas Amis (pronounced Amy), but it is open to the public.
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Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the springs no GPS necessary along with your observations of the spring. What wildlife you saw if any and the condition of the springs. Water level was high, low. The area was clean, trashy ect. Any other knowledge or experiences you have had with this paticular spring that would help document it's history.