Posted on 11/09/2006 11:14:24 AM PST by Ben Mugged
A new volcanic island has risen from the South Pacific near Tonga, according to reports from two vessels that passed the area.
The crew of the Maiken, a yacht that left the northern Tongan islands group of Vava'u in August, reported on their Web log on August 12 that they saw streaks of light, porous pumice stone floating in the water -- then "sailed into a vast, many-miles-wide belt of densely packed pumice."
They posted photos of huge "pumice rafts" that they encountered after passing Tonga's Late island while sailing toward Fiji.
"We were so fascinated and busy taking pictures that we plowed a couple of hundred meters into this surreal floating stone field before we realized that we had to turn back," wrote a crewman identified only as Haken.
The next day they spotted an active volcanic island, Haken wrote.
He said they could see the volcanic island clearly. "One mile in diameter and with four peaks and a central crater smoking with steam and once in a while an outburst high in the sky with lava and ashes. I think we're the first ones out here," he reported.
There was no official confirmation of a new island, either from Tonga's Ministry of Lands or the Tonga Defense Service.
Separately, fishing boat captain Siaosi Fenukitau reported seeing the volcanic island, the Matangitonga news Web site reported.
Richard Wunderman, editor of the Washington-based Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, said "a large pumice raft presumably from Tonga has been sweeping across Fiji, and we are trying to learn about its origins."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Mean West Texas
1. No income tax. No graduated tax of any kind.
2. Complete banking privacy.
3. No muslims. Any other religion, or lack thereof, is fine.
4. Everyone over 18 must own and wear sidearm.
I think if the rest of the constitution later.
Who has a boat?
Sure,
just don't hog all the pumice, ok?
If you'll promise to stop hogging all the covers like you usually do. :)
Depends on what you mean by "gook" but in the case of Carbon Dioxide, that's completely false.
Automobiles, Factories, etc. put over 150 times more CO2 in the atmosphere per year than the average per year total output of CO2 by every volcano on earth combined.
It ain't me hoggin' the covers!
BTTT
"Oh no,
There goes Tokyo..."
Mothra !
Godzirra!
Provide some proof to back that statement up. Please.
LOL, that's EXACTLY what I thought!!!
"Automobiles, Factories, etc. put over 150 times more CO2 in the atmosphere per year than the average per year total output of CO2 by every volcano on earth combined."
Proof to back up this statement.
Hey, this talk about island countries reminds me..where is that oil platform located that is an independent nation? North Sea?
"No, it's where KONG lives."
Drat! Beat me to it! :)
The sea turning to stone sounds like something out of mythology.
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Hazards/What/VolGas/volgas.html
Comparison of CO2 emissions from volcanoes vs. human activities.
Scientists have calculated that volcanoes emit between about 130-230 million tonnes (145-255 million tons) of CO2 into the atmosphere every year (Gerlach, 1999, 1992). This estimate includes both subaerial and submarine volcanoes, about in equal amounts. Emissions of CO2 by human activities, including fossil fuel burning, cement production, and gas flaring, amount to about 22 billion tonnes per year (24 billion tons) [ ( Marland, et al., 1998) - The reference gives the amount of released carbon (C), rather than CO2.]. Human activities release more than 150 times the amount of CO2 emitted by volcanoes--the equivalent of nearly 17,000 additional volcanoes like Kilauea (Kilauea emits about 13.2 million tonnes/year)!
What the heck is that?
On either side is the floating pumice, in the middle is the channel cut by their boat.
The story is here: http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/natural_events/tonga_eruption_081106.shtml
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