Posted on 08/02/2008 10:30:44 PM PDT by BenLurkin
It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but Ventura County fire officials say it's actually a naturally occurring thermal anomaly known as a "heat sink." They are worried about the phenomenon which is located 3 miles north of Fillmore on federal land owned by the BLM.
Fire officials say the "heat sink" is very hot gases escaping from the ground, like hydrogen sulfide. They say the gas is so hot, it can ignite the brush around it, starting wildfires. In fact, the fire department has been up there several times during the past couple of decades dealing with wildfires that were started that way. So, firefighters are cutting a containment line around a two acre perimeter as a precaution should a wildfire start again at that site.
The county, state and federal officials are also involved in studying the potential health and environmental hazards from the heat sink, although they emphasize that right now there is no immediate threat.
The ground temperature in that area has been measured to be as high as 812 degrees (F).
Bush’s fault.
It’s just the opposite of a heat sink; more of a furnace with a chimney.
Could this be related to the recent earthquake in Chino Hills this week?
Budda on a crutch!!! Why the blazes aren’t they tapping this FREE energy source?!?!
What I’m wondering is if it has anything to do with the recent earthquake about 50 miles south of there.
Scientists took the 812-degree reading Friday, and guessed that a recent fire above ground ignited gas and crude oil beneath the earth's surface in the area, which is one of California's longest-producing oil fields.
Fool! it’s closer to St, Andreas Fault, than to Crawford.../s>
No possibility of exploiting it for geothermal power?
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. If it was a heat sink, the area residents would need jackets.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) very, very bad stuff. A second or two at high concentrations, your lungs are ruined, then you're dead. H2S is also very corrosive. Worked for an oilfield service outfit for 30 years, when crews would go out on a H2S well all sorts of precautions were taken.
Interesting article.
There was that earthquake in LA movie decades ago that linked heat sink to a huge earthquake.
Anyone no if there is any truth to that?
Or is it pure hollywood fiction.
Heat sink! This is an amazing anomaly, I’ve never read about them before. Sounds sort of like the Yellowstone caldera, in miniature, concentrated.
The sulfurous pools in Yellowstone are deadly, too...I walked around them in the park, years ago, and the stink was dreadful. I’m sure this is nowhere near Yellowstone, but volcanoes can arise just about anywhere....
Wonder how this is gonna effect Ahrnold’s carbon emission reduction plan for CA?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1121982/posts?page=22#22
Scientific maverick’s theory on Earth’s core up for a test
SF Chronicle | Monday, November 29, 2004 | Keay Davidson
Posted on 12/05/2004 11:17:28 AM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1294934/posts
Sounds pretty dangerous! Hoping it doesn’t hurt anyone.
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