Nature 298, 339 - 343 (22 July 1982); doi:10.1038/298339a0

The thermal springs of Bath

J. N. Andrews^*, W. G. Burgess^†, W. M. Edmunds^†, R. L. F. Kay^‡ & D. J. Lee^§

^*School of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
^†Institute of Geological Sciences, Hydrogeology Unit, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BB, UK
^‡Institute of Geological Sciences, Environmental Protection Unit, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RA, UK
^§United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Winfrith, Dorset DT2 8DH, UK

Geochemical and hydrogeological evidence shows that the thermal springs at Bath originate from the Mendip Hills. A maximum subsurface temperature of 8016 °C is attained during circulation to between 2.7 and 4.3 km within the Carboniferous Limestone. The residence time of the bulk of the water is <10,000 yr.

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