Posted on 06/07/2005 4:18:16 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
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Great post thanks.
The unstable sea effect is caused by the lowering of density when methane bubbles pass through a volume of water. Displacement-hull ships just keel over and sink.
Thanks for the ping!
Are there any other kinds of ships?
And this affects airplanes how? (if there is anything to the Bermuda Triangle)
Airfoils work by being shaped specifically to generate a certain pressure difference on the top and bottom of the structure to produce lift. If you change the density of the air you are slicing through, the relative pressure (top and bottom of the wing) changes and you lose your lift.
Also the altimeter works on air density, so it will show you as climbing when you may actually be in a steep descent.
The Bermuda Triangle as a dangerous area is overblown. Lloyd's of London does not charge higher insurance for ships travelling through the triangle, if that is any indication.
In one TV documentary it showed that methane will choke out an airplane engine - since it is a volitile, flammable gas I thought it would rev it up, but tests indicate otherwise.
They said something about electromagnetic interference which would compromise radio distress signals or some instruments.
Interesting stuff.
Apparently when this methane "ice" melts or converts to liquid, and that liquid gets up to where the lower pressure allows it to "boil" into gas, the ocean essentially cuts a huge, explosive "phart". That's the theory anyway, although as far as I know no one has ever wittnessed one... and lived to report it.
I wonder if one of our spy satellites will ever document one of these events?
As an energy source, it bears investigation - although mass production might be a bit of a trick what with all of that mega-pressure involved.
We have plenty of regular, garden variety bacteria that routinely generate methane; that's what "biomass" is all about.
That "technology" has been around for millions of years, at least.
The Chinese apparently put a big sliding dome over the village cesspool and tap off the methane trapped under it for heating and cooking.
It ain't rocket science.
I seem to recall it was pretty well established that navigational errors accounted for most high profile aircraft disappearances over the Bermuda Triangle
Thanks again, PH, for the pings!
I see. Methane in water affects the air density at the altitudes planes fly at. Hmmm....
BTW, I am well aware of how an airfoil works.
(Note to all: I do not buy into "The Bermuda Triangle")
In all reality, I think the "Bermuda Triangle" rates right up there with creationism and ID. In other words pure BS.
I was being rather satiric in my first post. Guess that didn't come across. Sigh.
Photo of worms that live on the methane hydrate:
http://www.science.psu.edu/iceworms/viewxclose.html
Yes. Surface effect Ships
</pedantic>
The Coast Guard's Surface Effect Ships are a new concept in patrol craft. They are used primarily for law enforcement, especially drug and illegal migrant interdiction, marine environmental protection and search and rescue work. The 39-foot beam of the SES provides an exceptionally stable platform in most seas conditions, while its maximum speed of more than 30 knots assures rapid response for rescue cases. pollution containment and law enforcement. Its hull is welded marine aluminum. At lift speed a pressurized air cushion forms under the vessel, while the side walls pierce the water surface, forming a shallow-draft catamaran hull. They are highly maneuverable even at low speeds, with an 1,800-hp diesel engine, propeller and rudder in each side hull.
IMAGE FILE NUMBER: DN-ST-84-02072
Didn't say it wouldn't sink, just stating that there any other kinds of ships.
Guess I should have made the < /pedantic> a little larger.
HUH???
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