Where do the ripples come from?

Question

Working in an indoor swimmin pool, the water keeps forming circular ripples over the surface, as if it is raining, or drops are falling from the ceiling. Of course they are not, the pool surface is calm, it is empty, and the ripples come seemingly from nowhere. Any explanation?

Vince · Accepted Answer

Maybe bubbles rising to the surface and bursting?

Barry G · Answer

The reason is probably something particular to your pool.  Since I have no knowledge of your pool, it is pointless for me to speculate.  Try investigating the ripples yourself.  Something is breaking the water surface - either dropping from above or rising from below (eg an air bubble). What is above or below the centre of the ripples?  How often do the ripples occur?  When do they occur?  If confined to particular times, what else is happening at those times?  What happened immediately before?  Is it raining at the same time?  (Is there a leak in the roof?)

Steve · Answer

All pools have a circulation system that pumps water from the bottom, filters it, and returns it to just below the surface level.  The ripples are a result of this return flow.

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Where do the ripples come from?

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