Hart Springs - Dec. 20/14

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kelly Jessop

I did a study with Georgia DNR and we installed temperature sensors in the cave at about 300ft intervals to a distance to 1200'. When the Flint River started to rise,the spring we were testing reversed. The sensors in this case didn't show a slow change of temperature from sensor to sensor with progressively deeper penetration,but it was similar to a toilet being flushed. Looking at the temperature data revealed this reversal happened through out the system in minutes. A couple years later I went out to dive the system when the river was high,and from the surface I witnessed a swirling vortex of river water syphoning inward. This system wasn't a low flow system like Peacock,but a higher flow system.

---

it happens for sure Kelly. AJ and his buddy almost didn't make it out of one particular cave and had to claw and scratch to escape.

This flood was particularly fast. The slope of the river gauges was over 45 degrees on most stations, and nearly 60 degrees on the ones farthest up river. I have no doubt that most river caves reversed in minutes. In a "normal" flood, the slope of the river rising is more like 10-15 degrees, making reversal a much slower process. That is what most old timers are used to.

It reminds me of the old timers that were used to many years of Cat 1 hurricanes, so they refused to evacuate when Cat 5 hurricanes came along. Sadly many of them are dead now.