Evaporation from the Captain Cook Memorial Jet: Physics of a Giant Fountain

Why Fountains Increase Evaporation

Water forced 147 m into the air breaks into fine droplets. Each droplet has a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, maximizing heat exchange and vaporization. Wind (up to 30 km/h before auto-shutoff) carries away vapor.

Loss Estimate

6 tonnes suspended at any moment; a significant fraction evaporates before falling back. Exact loss depends on humidity, temperature, and droplet size distribution.

Bottom Line

Yes, large fountains lose water to evaporation—far more than a still lake of equal surface area.