Japan Probes Mysterious Vapor Eruption 209
Saeed al-Sahaf writes "From the BBC, Japan's Coast Guard dispatched aircraft Sunday to survey a 3,300-foot-high column of steam rising from the Pacific Ocean off the island of Iwo Jima. MSNBC has a nice picture. The vapor was reported Saturday after Japanese troops stationed on the small island observed the massive cloudy plume rise from the sea about 30 miles southeast of the island. 'It's highly likely that it's caused by an eruption of an underwater volcano,' Japanese officials said. But others are not so sure, and are speculating that Godzilla has awoken from its nap. Tokyo remains calm at this hour."
Mitsubishi F-2 Versus Godzilla (Score:3, Informative)
The F-2 is the new Japanese frontline fighter and employs stealth technology developed by Japanese engineers. The F-2 is distinctly inferior to the American F-22 but is a source of pride for the Japanese military.
In about 5 years, Tokyo will deploy the new F-2 Super Kai, an improved version of the F-2. The Japanese military has already released pictures of a preliminary model [adularia.ath.cx]. It should be quite effective an slaying Godzilla or the Chinese military.
The pictures of the F-2 Super Kai are awesome. What's this? I'm salivating.
Re:The water is friggin red! (Score:5, Informative)
Probably hematite, sulfur compounds and ashes coming from the volcano. They must be mixing with the water on the ocean floor and rising with the columns of hot water.
Re:The water is friggin red! (Score:5, Informative)
Because volcanos usually send up a lot of smoke and ash and crap (that's the technical term for it). The crap would usually put a lot of smoke in the air, especially from anything that burned. Since this is under water, any minerals such as iron and sulfer that might react due to the heat of the volcano, along with organic matter from dead fish, seeweed, coral, or whatever might be on the ocean floor doesn't turn into smoke. Instead, it dissolves into the water and turns it some nasty foul color, in this case reddish.
they THINK it's a volcano? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:obligatory (Score:2, Informative)
A troll. Thanks for playing.
Re:Sounds like a nice island... (Score:1, Informative)
Re:they THINK it's a volcano? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:This is a joke, right? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:This is a joke, right? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Its the terrorists! (Score:3, Informative)
well if the pacific ocean was downloading movies or music the US would have already thrown it in jail.
look at the bigger picture (Score:3, Informative)
WA Post has an "enlargeable image" [washingtonpost.com] showing the plume from the side. I haven't found a bigger one yet. What I really want is video.
Re:look at the bigger picture (Score:4, Informative)
Google news Japan kanji for volcano search [google.com]
Yahoo news for Japan with the kanji search [yahoo.co.jp]
appologies for the self reply.
Re:Mitsubishi F-2 Versus Godzilla (Score:4, Informative)
It's inferior because it's an F-16 airframe with radar absorbent materials on the leading edges. At least, according to the Wikipedia article to which you linked.
The incorporation of RAM (ACs: insert lame computer-hardware related joke here) into an aircraft does not make it stealthy. Ever wondered why the F-117, B-2, and for that matter the F-22 look rather unusual? It is because shape is much more important than the coating.
Having said this, the F-16 (and derivatives) are nevertheless remarkable aircraft. I have heard that some of the more experienced F-16 pilots have been fairly consistent in out-maneuvering the F-22 in exercises. With the introduction of stealth technologies, it is a shame to see such an incredible aircraft see the end of its line. (I would've probably said this about the P-51, too.)
Re:I saw this one (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I saw this one (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I saw this one (Score:4, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Celeste [wikipedia.org]
Wikipedia seems to give an identifiable history with a lot of detail for both the ship and captain.