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Google Debunks Maps Atlantis Myth

Posted by kdawson on from the carry-on-speculating dept.

prxi writes "Recently speculation spread that Atlantis may have been located on Google Ocean. Now Google has posted a blog entry, written by two oceanographers, explaining what exactly caused the strange markings off the coast of Africa. The authors also note that we have better maps of the surface of Mars than we do of our own oceans, and go into detail on what would be required to obtain a fine-grained map of the ocean floor. Apparently it's only 200 ship years of work, or around the cost of a modern stadium, give or take."

6 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. 0 comments? on a 5th thread on slashdot homepage?? by ionix5891 · · Score: 3, Funny

    No big loss, Atlantis was becoming one boring and predictable tv show

  2. I bet some one will say... by ryzvonusef · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ITS ALL A CONSPIRACY!!!111! or something like that :)

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  3. Data by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From FTA:

    We do our best to predict what the sea floor looks like based on what we can measure much more easily: the water surface. Above large underwater mountains (seamounts), the surface of the ocean is actually higher than in surrounding areas. These seamounts actually increase gravity in the area, which attracts more water and causes sea level to be slightly higher. The changes in water height are measurable using radar on satellites.

    That is the most interesting thing I have read through Slashdot in a really long while.

  4. The reason.. by anilg · · Score: 3, Informative

    Reason for those lines: Ship tracks due to the way oceanographic equipment work.

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    1. Re:The reason.. by Muad'Dave · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I noticed that same area when the day this story broke. What was so interesting that someone bothered to go searching?

      I also wonder about these mini-seamounts off the coast of Nags Head - are they wrecks, or actual features?

      Also, what's with the blurring here? It's probably where data was stitched, but it might be intentional blurring of the wreck of the Monitor. I like a good conspiracy theory.

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  5. Cost? by nizo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apparently it's only 200 ship years of work...

    How much more does it cost if some of the ships have to fend off pirates?

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