Preface to First Edition - lib

CHAPTER 8Density Estimation: Erupting Geysersand Star Clusters8.1 IntroductionGeysers are natural fountains that shoot up into the air, at more or less regularintervals, a column of heated water and steam. Old Faithful is one such geyserand is the most popular attraction of Yellowstone National Park, although it isnot the largest or grandest geyser in the park. Old Faithful can vary in heightfrom 100–180 feet with an average near 130–140 feet. Eruptions normally lastbetween 1.5 to 5 minutes.From August 1 to August 15, 1985, Old Faithful was observed and thewaiting times between successive eruptions noted. There were 300 eruptionsobserved, so 299 waiting times were (in minutes) recorded and those shown inTable 8.1.Table 8.1:faithful data (package datasets). Old Faithfulgeyser waiting times between two eruptions.waiting waiting waiting waiting waiting79 83 75 76 5054 71 59 63 8274 64 89 88 5462 77 79 52 7585 81 59 93 7855 59 81 49 7988 84 50 57 7885 48 85 77 7851 82 59 68 7085 60 87 81 7954 92 53 81 7084 78 69 73 5478 78 77 50 8647 65 56 85 5083 73 88 74 9052 82 81 55 5462 56 45 77 5484 79 82 83 7752 71 55 83 79139© 2010 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC