How does a spring work? (the water kind)

[pengolodh_sc at yahoo.no]

By no means an expert, but I'll try.

Depends on the circumstances.  It could be that the water actually 
comes from a source higher up, such as runoff from the mountains, or 
a river that has gone underground, with no other escape-path for the 
water than upwards.  In the case of hot-water springs, it is a matter 
of pressure as well - water expands as it gets warmer (when it's 
above 4 degrees centigrade; below that it contracts when it gets 
warmer until it hits four degrees).

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:
> Hey, it says OT up there.
> 
> Any geology/physics types on here?  I am trying to understand a 
> geological phenomenon, preferably before 11 p.m. Eastern Time,
> and I don't know where to even begin to find out on the internet.
> If you have the slightest understanding of what makes water
> travel upwards in a spring, or know where to point me to find
> out, could you respond offlist?  aiz24 AT hotmail.com.
> 
> Many thanks,
> Amy