Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 9 July 1902, page 6


TEMPERATURE OF THE BLUE LAKE. ' , ?

A short time ago the waterworks authorities sent, to Mr. J. I. Fairweatlierj the superintendent of the waterworks at Mount Gambier, a deep-sea sounding line and Ither

ture of the water of the Blue Lake. He; made- the test on Friday List. Tlie air immediately over the : water showed 52 deg. F. .. At the surface the water was' 54 deg..' P.,-; at 50 ft. 53 deg. F., and from that depth to the bottom 53 deg. F. He did not test the deepest part, the spot where, he tried; the temperature being only 264 ft. deep. In conversation with a representative of The Register, the Conservator of Water (Mr. J. W. Jones, said:— 'The test, was made partly on account ofthe little unrest' that exists about volcanoes. The Blue Lake is a volcanic crater of very considerable depth. '' It is generally, supposed to be unfathomable-, but the depths given, in the tests show that a good deal of the bottom is(at a much less depth than people imagine. In Uw light of the volcanic disturbances in other parts of the world— Martinique and Central America, for instance— and because of the frequent recent earthquake shocks, particularly in the south-eastern districts, there lias been a good deal of unrest at Mount Gambier, which is the only volcanic region in South Australia. While it was not for :i moment officially supposed that there was the slightest indication of any disturbance at Mount (trambier, favourable opportunity was talcen to test the temperature of the lake water at its greatest depth with' a deep-sea thermometcr, used for testing the temperature in deep 'artesian bores. A record of these deep-water temperatures, both in lakes and oceans, is of considerable scientific interest and importance.'