Hart Springs - Dec. 20/14

[LiteHedded]

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.

[FW]

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.