Pacific paradise timebomb

[notorious bum]

Japanese shipwrecks destroyed during World War II could lead to an environmental disaster in the Pacific.

It was a defining moment of World War II. In February 1944, the US Navy attacked Japan's naval forces in the western Pacific.

After 48 hours, 200,000 tonnes of Japanese ships, aircraft, trucks and tanks were sunk, creating a haunting undersea graveyard.

Today, the site is a marine wonderland, attracting scuba divers from across the world. But it has also become a ticking timebomb, threatening a fragile Pacific paradise.

Within the rapidly deteriorating shipwrecks lurk tens of millions of litres of thick black oil which scientists say will be released in the next few years, destroying a pristine environment and the island's economy for generations to come.

This 101 East episode can be seen from Thursday, May 19, 2011 at the following times GMT: Thursday: 2230; Friday: 0930; Saturday: 0330; Sunday: 1630.

Just saw this on Al Jazeera livestream, but also found a link to watch it on youtube



Pretty sick, to think that neither the US or Japan will end up giving a shit until its too late and their ecosystem is destroyed. Have a feeling this will also effect more than just this small chain of island's fishery in the long term as well.

[archibaldcrane]

To keep this in perspective, how much oil are we talking about relative to the gulf of mexico gusher?

[BadKarma]

To keep this in perspective, how much oil are we talking about relative to the gulf of mexico gusher?

Not even a spec compared to that I imagine

[archibaldcrane]

Gulf spill was 4.9 million barrels of oil, accd. to wikipedia. There's 159 liters in a barrel. So if we say 20 million liters of oil eventually over a couple decades leak in the pacific...we're talking around 125,000 barrels over the course of a couple decades - so about half of the Exxon Valdez.

Given the slow anticipated release of this oil, the amount of water in the ocean, etc. etc....

Damage to the ecosystem will probably be limited.

There's my layman's take.

[Fhqwghads]

Gulf spill was 4.9 million barrels of oil, accd. to wikipedia. There's 159 liters in a barrel. So if we say 20 million liters of oil eventually over a couple decades leak in the pacific...we're talking around 125,000 barrels over the course of a couple decades - so about half of the Exxon Valdez.

Given the slow anticipated release of this oil, the amount of water in the ocean, etc. etc....

Damage to the ecosystem will probably be limited.

There's my layman's take.

Yeah, I was thinking the thread was some crazy shit, like "plutonium fuel rods bursting forth from old reactors in sunken ships causing mega-mutations and the awakening of Cthulhu." This is more like "orly?" *snore*

[Salodin]

Didn't read links or watch videos, but theres no (very) important coral reefs or anything around them is there? If there isn't then I can't imagine this being too too bad just based on the slow release, fish moving away, etc.

However, Japan still can't catch a fucking break.

[*Shinzon*]

If it's still viable oil I imagine someone would be willing to go get it, so long as it's just a matter of siphoning the oil out no?

[notorious bum]

But couldn't this slow release eventually hit a breaking point and eventually start gushing out in succession? I mean, they were all sunk simultaneously, the way I interpreted it, the structure failures would cause the tanks to burst open, one after another over a period of a few years.

Still, I believe its the responsibility of the U.S. and Japan to do something about it.

edit: as for siphoning, I think the problem was a cost-profit ration not being high enough to be worth the effort

[*Shinzon*]

I can't imagine the cost being incredibly high considering all the oil siphoning equipment that was used in the gulf spill. Then again if they had to do a lot of heavy labor to get to the oil and then siphon I could understand the objection. Still should probably be cleaned up.

[isladar]

I thought this was about Thunder in Paradise

[Syntex]

I thought this was about Thunder in Paradise

Wow. Have not heard that in a loooooooooooooooooooong fucking time.

[Skyylya]

i would imagine it's not a cost/profit issue anymore as it'll cost a ton to clean it up after it does get released. So there's going to be a cost now regardless, handling it before it gets into the ecosystem would make sense.

[tyven]

I thought this was about Thunder in Paradise

marry me

[Azull]

At this point would trying to clean it up do more harm then good to the ecosystems that have formed as a results of the ships being there. I also have doubts that even an extreamly unlikly mass release event from most of the ships at once is even possible.

[Necronus]

I thought this was about Thunder in Paradise

There's a hurrican a blowin' in ... over the water
Waiting in anticipation ... for the action to begin ...

Thuuuuundeerr ... Thunder in Paradise

[*Shinzon*]

There's a hurrican a blowin' in ... over the water
Waiting in anticipation ... for the action to begin ...

Thuuuuundeerr ... Thunder in Paradise

God damnit. Fuck you and your nostalgia bomb.

[Necronus]

Muahahahahaha ....

[MarkM.]

1g is a little more than 3.75L so whatever amount that is done there. It's a lot regardless.

[Plow]

Gulf spill was 4.9 million barrels of oil, accd. to wikipedia. There's 159 liters in a barrel. So if we say 20 million liters of oil eventually over a couple decades leak in the pacific...we're talking around 125,000 barrels over the course of a couple decades - so about half of the Exxon Valdez.

Given the slow anticipated release of this oil, the amount of water in the ocean, etc. etc....

Damage to the ecosystem will probably be limited.

There's my layman's take.

take the exxon valdez and put it in a giant bowl, that's about what you're looking at here

you can't really compare because of the position it's in, it's not like it can just flow around and disperse reasonably

[Athas]

Man, God really hates Japan.