Page 25 - 1915, Springs of CA.

NATURAL WATEES. 25
Temperature close to the boiling point is found in many springs.
As the boiling point decreases with increase in elevation, and as the
temperature of the water in several springs in California is at or
near the boiling point although considerably below the usually
assumed boiling temperature of 212° F., the following table of boil-
ing points and approximate elevations is given. The boiling point
also varies with the barometric pressure, but since a variation of
one-quarter of an inch in the barometric pressure, which is extreme,
causes a change of only about one-half degree in the boiling point,
it is not of great importance. Solids in solution increase the boiling
point slightly and gases decrease it, but both of these factors are
negligible in nearly all thermal spring waters.
The assumption that an increase of 525 feet in elevation causes a
decrease of 1° F. in the boiling point of water gives approximately
accurate results.

Relation of boiling point of water to barometric pressure and to elevation.a

Boiling Barometric Approximate Boiling Barometric Approximate
point. pressure. elevation. point. pressure. elevation.
"F. Inches. Feet. "F. Inches. Feet.
185 17.05 14.350 199 22.97 6,825
186 17.42 13,800 200 23.45 6,300
187 17.81 13,250 201 23.94 5,775
188 18.20 12,700 202 24.44 5,250
189 18.59 12,150 203 24.95 4,725
190 19.00 11.600 204 25.46 4,200
191 19.41 11,050 205 25.99 3.675
192 19.82 10,500 206 26.52 3,150
193 20.25 9,975 207 27.07 2,625
194 20.68 9,450 208 27.62 2,100
195 21.13 8,925 209 28.18 1,575
196 21.58 8,400 210 28.75 1,050
197 22.03 7,875 211 29.33 525
198 22.50 7,350 212 29.92 0
o Boiling points and barometric pressures taken from Smithsonian physical tables, 3d ed., 1904, p. 170.
Approximate elevations computed from scale used on aneroid barometers, which gives an approximate
rise of 525 feet in elevation for a decrease of 1° F. in the boiling point, up to 10,500 feet in elevation, and a rise
of 560 feet for a decrease of 1° in the higher computed elevations.
(CLASSIFICATION OF MINERAL WATERS.
Many plans for the chemical classification of waters have been
proposed. These plans have in general been based on units of
weight, and, since such units are obscure indices to chemical energy,
the class names proposed convey little idea of the character of the
water solution and amount to little more than an enumeration of the
names of the radicles or supposititious compounds included in ana-
lytical statements. Palmer's classification 1 is a rational one, express-
ing the properties of reaction as percentages of their sum, and affords
a serviceable key to the character of waters. In this paper, although
any rigid numerical classification is scarcely warranted because many

1 Palmer, Chase, loc. cit.