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Japan Probes Mysterious Vapor Eruption

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."

5 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The water is friggin red! by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Informative

    Someone explain why the water in the picture looks red/brown?

    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.

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  2. Re:The water is friggin red! by istartedi · · Score: 4, 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.

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  3. Re:Mitsubishi F-2 Versus Godzilla by Zancarius · · Score: 4, 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.

    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.)
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  4. Re:I saw this one by __aaxtnf2500 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Modern torpedos detonate at a significant distance from the keel of a surface target, as the initial expansion wave carries a significant portion, but not all of the potential energy the torpedo can generate. By detonating the torpedo at a deeper depth, the explosion can evacuate the water from under the keel, using the ships own weight against its (explosively) weakened structure. This effect can be seen in most of the SINKEX videos floating around the net. The ship disintegrating would be from the explosive force, not rising gases.

  5. Re:I saw this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative
    Thanks for the pointer. Here's a nice series of pictures with an explanation describing the effect you describe.
    I had shown these pictures to many people. My 12 year-old son, Greg, pointed out to me something no one else had noticed. He said, "Dad, there's no fire in that explosion".

    I guess this wouldn't make it in hollywood.

    The explosion happened underwater. The ship was split by the gas bubble generated.