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The mystery of the smoking gutter

Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 11:05am

Teralek

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The mystery of the smoking gutter

I've been in a lot of places. But only here I saw this:

I could never find an explanations for this phenomenon, specially why I only saw it here! New York city!

I thought all those smoking gutters from the movies were just special effects, but no, thei're real!

Can someone please enlighten me on this?

Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 11:30am #1

digitalbeachbum

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Teralek wrote:I've been in a

Teralek wrote:

I've been in a lot of places. But only here I saw this:

I could never find an explanations for this phenomenon, specially why I only saw it here! New York city!

I thought all those smoking gutters from the movies were just special effects, but no, thei're real!

Can someone please enlighten me on this?

I've seen this and it isn't only with NY city.

There are steam pipes which break or whatever and that is where the steam comes from...

Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 12:21pm #2

Teralek

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Yes, I've only been in

Yes, I've only been in Boston and Portland (Maine) but only for a day... but it's reasonable to believe it's not just in NY.

The question I ask is why are there steam pipes underground??! I never heard of such a thing in Europe.

Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 12:59pm #3

Jeffrick

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Simple

Teralek wrote:

Yes, I've only been in Boston and Portland (Maine) but only for a day... but it's reasonable to believe it's not just in NY.
The question I ask is why are there steam pipes underground??! I never heard of such a thing in Europe.

They are under the streets of NORTHERN citys. The heated road and sidewalk MELTS the snow. I'm sure some North European citys do the same thing, Stockholm and Reykijavic I'm sure do.

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Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 1:01pm #4

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Teralek wrote:Yes, I've only

Teralek wrote:

Yes, I've only been in Boston and Portland (Maine) but only for a day... but it's reasonable to believe it's not just in NY.
The question I ask is why are there steam pipes underground??! I never heard of such a thing in Europe.

Some cities have steam pipes underground left over from earlier technology. But I don't think that is what is happening.

Portland, OR where I live, and Seattle WA where I have visited both have this phenomenon. The water in the pipes is very cold, the air is warmer. Water in streams or underground in the northern areas is very cold. And it stays cold underground in the city pipes. The warmer air circulates around the cold pipes and condenses into foggy steam. Sort of like your ice tea glass when you first add the ice out of the freezer on a hot day. Not as much steam forms because your glass is a lot smaller than the pipes.

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Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 4:18pm #5

Teralek

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Jeffrick wrote:Teralek

Jeffrick wrote:

Teralek wrote:
Yes, I've only been in Boston and Portland (Maine) but only for a day... but it's reasonable to believe it's not just in NY.
The question I ask is why are there steam pipes underground??! I never heard of such a thing in Europe.

They are under the streets of NORTHERN citys. The heated road and sidewalk MELTS the snow. I'm sure some North European citys do the same thing, Stockholm and Reykijavic I'm sure do.

Maybe... I've been in Oslo and Stockholm... for one day, no steaming vents... NY on the other hand had lots! Maybe I went on a bad day...

Posted on: April 3, 2012 - 6:25pm #6

digitalbeachbum

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cj wrote:Teralek wrote:Yes,

cj wrote:

Teralek wrote:
Yes, I've only been in Boston and Portland (Maine) but only for a day... but it's reasonable to believe it's not just in NY.
The question I ask is why are there steam pipes underground??! I never heard of such a thing in Europe.

Some cities have steam pipes underground left over from earlier technology. But I don't think that is what is happening.
Portland, OR where I live, and Seattle WA where I have visited both have this phenomenon. The water in the pipes is very cold, the air is warmer. Water in streams or underground in the northern areas is very cold. And it stays cold underground in the city pipes. The warmer air circulates around the cold pipes and condenses into foggy steam. Sort of like your ice tea glass when you first add the ice out of the freezer on a hot day. Not as much steam forms because your glass is a lot smaller than the pipes.

When I was at Parris Island, doing my USMC training, the island uses steam but the pipes are above ground.

It was fun because air would get in to the pipes and go down the line and it would rattle and ping the pipes.

When you are in training for the first time (around 21) and you hear that stuff at night, it echos through the squad bays.

The steam is used for a variety of things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_steam_system

Posted on: April 4, 2012 - 5:23am #7

Teralek

Posts: 620

Joined: 2010-07-15

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digitalbeachbum wrote:cj

digitalbeachbum wrote:

cj wrote:
Teralek wrote:
Yes, I've only been in Boston and Portland (Maine) but only for a day... but it's reasonable to believe it's not just in NY.
The question I ask is why are there steam pipes underground??! I never heard of such a thing in Europe.

Some cities have steam pipes underground left over from earlier technology. But I don't think that is what is happening.
Portland, OR where I live, and Seattle WA where I have visited both have this phenomenon. The water in the pipes is very cold, the air is warmer. Water in streams or underground in the northern areas is very cold. And it stays cold underground in the city pipes. The warmer air circulates around the cold pipes and condenses into foggy steam. Sort of like your ice tea glass when you first add the ice out of the freezer on a hot day. Not as much steam forms because your glass is a lot smaller than the pipes.
When I was at Parris Island, doing my USMC training, the island uses steam but the pipes are above ground.
It was fun because air would get in to the pipes and go down the line and it would rattle and ping the pipes.
When you are in training for the first time (around 21) and you hear that stuff at night, it echos through the squad bays.

The steam is used for a variety of things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_steam_system

Ah! the answer! Thanks!