1. Go to the database of U.S.
thermal springs.
2. Once at this site, note there are a number of files available. If you wish to retrieve the entire database, go to the bottom of this page and click the Select Data button. This file will open
automatically on your browser screen. Move your cursor to the first entry
in the database, click on the left mouse button and drag the cursor to the
bottom of the database to select every entry.
3. Now copy the data to your computer clipboard by simultaneously keying
the "Ctrl" and "C" keys on your computer keyboard.
4. Open Microsoft Excel on your computer. When the program has loaded, click
on the upper left cell of the spreadsheet and paste the data from the clipboard
into the spreadsheet by simultaneously keying the "Ctrl" and "V"
keys.
5. If the data did not parse into separate cells, you will need to use the
convert the text to columns using the "Text to Columns" option under
the "Data" tab of the menu bar.
6. Once you have parsed your data into the spreadsheet, you can answer the
questions below.
a. How many thermal springs are tabulated in this database?
b. How many states have recorded thermal springs? Which part of the United
States has the greatest concentration of thermal springs? Why do you think
this is so? What geological explanations are there for this phenomenon?
c. Which state has the largest number of recorded thermal springs? Why
do you think this is so?
d. What is the highest reported temperature for the springs in the database?
Provide the name and location (latitude, longitude, state) for this spring.
e. What is the coolest reported temperature for the springs in the database?
Provide the names and locations for these springs.
f. Why does NGDC maintain this database? What bearing do thermal springs
have on geophysics?
