Pakistan’s earthquake was so violent it created a new island in the Indian Ocean | Hacker News Reader

Pakistan’s earthquake was so violent it created a new island in the Indian Ocean

washingtonpost.com

33 pointsdshankar13 comments

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Prior discussion here (for the BBC article that ComputerGuru mentioned):

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6447007

It's not a new Island. The last time it appeared was back in late 2010. It's simply resurfaced.

A motivating spot to build a startup, then.

The island pivoted.

So, let me get this straight. People are standing on this land mass that, prior to this earthquake, was underwater.

Wouldn't it be funny if another quake hit and made it go back under water?

I'm a decent swimmer and probably swim somewhere around five to seven miles per week (open water and pool). I would wait a while before getting on that land mass. Maybe I'm too paranoid.

Actually if you read the BBC article it is the mud shell of a giant bubble of flammable gas. So what would be "funny" would be to have the think pop under them and engulf them in a huge fireball explosion. Ok, so not funny, but they mention also in the BBC article to 'igniting' one of the gas leaks and then having a heck of a time putting it out again.

If it is methane, they would be better off leaving it lit and burning as the CO2 would be less of a greenhouse gas than the methane, and it would prevent buildup of unburnt gas which increases the fire hazard.

Of course they could build a magical city on it with its own source of power that could develop advanced technologies and then sink into the ocean never to be heard from again :-)

Of course they could build a magical city on it with its own source of power that could develop advanced technologies and then sink into the ocean never to be heard from again :-)

I propose we dub it Atlantis.

Edit: Signed, Captain Obvious

> I propose we dub it Atlantis.

Indiantis?

Indianis. Sure. (Indiantis sounds like indianitis, an inflammatory condition, apparently. ;) )

My vague recollection is that CH4 is a much more powerful greenhouse gas, but CO2 is much longer lived. Of course, if the methane just breaks down into CO2 anyway (which strikes me as likely), burning it is still a win...

"Indian Ocean"? Its called the Arabian Sea.

"The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea

You're a hundred percent correct; the BBC News story is more intelligently written: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24272552

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