Editing Spring (hydrology) (section)

{{Short description|Point at which water emerges from an aquifer to the surface}}
{{Other uses|Spring (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
[[Image:Big Spring Missouri 1-02Aug08.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|On an average day nearly {{convert|303|e6USgal|m3}} of water flow from [[Big Spring (Missouri)|Big Spring]] in [[Missouri]] at a rate of {{convert|469|cuft/s|m3/s}}.]]
[[File:Grand Prismatic Spring.jpg|thumb|[[Grand Prismatic Spring]], Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming]]

A '''spring''' is a natural exit point at which [[groundwater]] emerges from an [[aquifer]] and flows across the ground surface as [[surface water]]. It is a component of the [[hydrosphere]], as well as a part of the [[water cycle]]. Springs have long been important for [[humans]] as a source of [[fresh water]], especially in [[arid]] regions which have relatively little annual [[rainfall]].

Springs are driven out onto the surface by various natural forces, such as [[gravity]] and [[Hydrostatics#Hydrostatic pressure|hydrostatic pressure]]. A spring produced by the emergence of [[Geothermal activity|geothermally heated]] groundwater is known as a [[hot spring]]. The [[yield (hydrology)|yield]] of spring water varies widely from a [[volumetric flow rate]] of nearly zero to more than {{convert|14000|L/s|cuft/s}} for the biggest springs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/takaka-area/te-waikoropupu-springs/?tab-id=50578|title=Te Waikoropupū Springs|publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation|access-date=6 February 2022}}</ref>