Definitions
There is no universally accepted definition of a hot spring. For example, one can find the phrase hot spring defined as
- any geothermal spring
- a spring with water temperatures above its surroundings
- a natural spring with water temperature above body temperature – normally between 36.5 and 37.5 °C (98 and 100 °F)
- a natural spring with warm water above body temperature
- a thermal spring with water warmer than 36.7 °C (98 °F)
- a natural spring of water greater than 21.1 °C (70 °F) (synonymous with thermal spring)
- a natural discharge of groundwater with elevated temperatures
- a type of thermal spring in which hot water is brought to the surface. The water temperature of a hot spring is usually 6.5 °C (12 °F) or more above mean air temperature. Note that by this definition, "thermal spring" is not synonymous with the term "hot spring"
- a spring whose hot water is brought to the surface (synonymous with a thermal spring). The water temperature of the spring is usually 8.3 °C (15 °F) or more above the mean air temperature.
- a spring with water above the core human body temperature – 36.7 °C (98 °F).
- a spring with water above average ambient ground temperature, a definition favored by some
- a spring with water temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F)
The related term "warm spring" is defined as a spring with water temperature less than a hot spring by many sources, although Pentecost et al. (2003) suggest that the phrase "warm spring" is not useful and should be avoided. The US NOAA Geophysical Data Center defines a "warm spring" as a spring with water between 20 and 50 °C (68 and 122 °F).
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