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Ataahua
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Feb 26 2015, 12:08am
Post #1 of 35
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My favourite 'What if?' from xkcd
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What if the Earth's oceans were drained from their lowest point? What would happen to the Earth's landscapes? Be sure to hover over the images to read the hypertexts.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Ataahua's stories
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 12:18am
Post #2 of 35
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Its all the Netherlands in the end. Mayo on our fries, its inevitable. It would be a weird change to currents - air and water - I suppose, as the oceans are so much smaller. I wonder how the exposed sea bottom would be for farming, once the ambient salt levels dropped with rainwater infusion? And will Japan say, isthmus be my lucky day?
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Ataahua
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Feb 26 2015, 12:45am
Post #3 of 35
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Would the salinity drop, though?
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The closed system of evaporation/rainfall would keep the salinity at the same level, wouldn't it? (Once the draining had stopped.) Or does rainwater that drains from land carry some salinity with it, and so would have less area to disperse in when it hit the much-reduced seas? I suspect the sea would be warmer though as there would be less of it to absorb heat from sunlight. I wonder if cloud cover would change with less of the planet's surface covered in water? (I love how we all become part of the Netherlands.)
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Ataahua's stories
(This post was edited by Ataahua on Feb 26 2015, 12:46am)
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 12:58am
Post #4 of 35
(2022 views)
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I was thinking that the salt levels of the newly exposed soil
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itself would need to drop to be used for agriculture - should have been clearer about that idea. The seas, I guess, would stay approximately the same. But that may depend on rainfall patterns I guess. We could have more 'dead seas' form, I suppose, if inland seas are left in place with little rain? I too wonder with less depth if that means higher temps and more evaporation - so more overall rainfall and cloud cover? Sheesh, then things might warm from cloud insulation... OK, where's the Tylenol???? What an intricate number of changes. We need Daniel.
(This post was edited by Brethil on Feb 26 2015, 1:01am)
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 2:05am
Post #6 of 35
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(This post was edited by Brethil on Feb 26 2015, 2:06am)
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
Feb 26 2015, 2:08am
Post #7 of 35
(2005 views)
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You realize that life goes fast It's hard to make the good things last You realize the sun doesn't go down It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning 'round ~Do You Realize?, The Flaming Lips
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 2:11am
Post #8 of 35
(2007 views)
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With higher water temps, more cloud cover so less sunlight, and lots of rain? Ugh!
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Kim
Valinor
Feb 26 2015, 2:13am
Post #9 of 35
(2002 views)
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hmmm, sounds suspiciously familiar...
#OneLastTime
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 3:41am
Post #10 of 35
(1995 views)
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Oddly enough, with us discussing this I watched a show
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about water, and one shocking change was the loss (still happening) of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan. The Earth Observatory discusses it here: Shrinking Aral Sea The lower water levels led to extreme salination, salt blowoff, soil loss from the death of the plant life, and toxic end levels of pesticides. Not encouraging.
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sador
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 7:12am
Post #11 of 35
(1978 views)
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It seems that you New Zealanders will have a good time of it, until being conquered by the Dutch.
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DanielLB
Immortal
Feb 26 2015, 7:26am
Post #12 of 35
(1991 views)
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A whole new world / I have arrived!
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Immediate thought: the weather and the penguins are doomed! Second thought: I have no idea how the earth system would react to this. The only thing I can be sure on is that (in the short-term) Antarctica South Netherlands would collapse, and the sea levels (for a time) would increase around the continent. Ice shelves act as a plug for the domed Antarctic continent. If you drop the sea level, you loose the plugs, and glaciers would suddenly pour out from the continent leading to massive ice loss. With less water in water cycle, the glaciers wouldn't be replenished, and you would probably lose the majority of the permanent ice. The seas around South Netherlands would be a lot less saline than elsewhere. Third thought: South Netherland ice loss would be the least of our concerns. All the underwater vents and volcanoes would be exposed, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The deep ocean is also an important sink for carbon (dioxide). With that sink virtually non-existent, the levels would shoot through the roof in the atmosphere. We'd pretty much be set for a runaway greenhouse effect. Still, those who like sunbathing will enjoy the heat. Fourth thought: War. All the angry gun-wielding Vikings sitting on settees would kill us all.
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Kim
Valinor
Feb 26 2015, 7:58am
Post #13 of 35
(1982 views)
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You find out what happens to all the water when it lands on Mars. Short answer: New Netherlands. Also, I just noticed the logo at the top - there's a dinosaur being held over the Sarlaac pit. Awesome. Except the real Sarlaac pit doesn't have tentacles coming out of it.
#OneLastTime
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Lissuin
Valinor
Feb 26 2015, 8:59am
Post #15 of 35
(1975 views)
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Husband is from The Netherlands.
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There'll be no living with him after this.
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dormouse
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 10:14am
Post #16 of 35
(1964 views)
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But then, I am half Dutch!!!
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Bombadil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 12:37pm
Post #17 of 35
(1950 views)
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Seems the DRAIN is in "The Marianas Trench" off..
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Off Japan or is it? ... Near the Philippines...? Too Lazy to Look THAT up.. Bom would like to walk to Europe?
www.charlie-art.biz "What Your Mind can conceive... charlie can achieve"
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 3:26pm
Post #18 of 35
(1951 views)
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Commissioner Gordon asked if you would bring Robin; I told him no, he will bring science. I didn't even contemplate glacier loss, and what that would mean. Yikes. If all our water mediates the global temperatures and crust emissions (like a big radiator?) that could get ugly. And all that connected land ... if the angry Vikings can just jump on bicycles, invasions will be rampant. I may just start wearing a horn helmet, to be on the safe side.
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DanielLB
Immortal
Feb 26 2015, 5:30pm
Post #20 of 35
(1928 views)
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That sure will help my wingless Balrogs fly!
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DanielLB
Immortal
Feb 26 2015, 5:42pm
Post #21 of 35
(1924 views)
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Dressing up as a Narwhal isn't going to help, Brethil!
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I may just start wearing a horn helmet, to be on the safe side. You need to go all Terminator on those Vikings.
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Dame Ioreth
Tol Eressea
Feb 26 2015, 5:52pm
Post #22 of 35
(1917 views)
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We had a small flock of very confused robins
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on our front lawn the day before this most recent snow hit. Poor things. They really didn't look happy with life. Usually they are gone for the winter. Can't say why this group decided to stay.... ... oh... wrong robin... Vikings on bicycles? Surely they'd ride Harleys or something equally as loud and menacing (and don't call me Shirley )
. Heed WBA when building blanket forts. ITLs don't get enough FAS. :) Where there's life there's hope, and need of vittles. ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
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Brethil
Half-elven
Feb 26 2015, 6:25pm
Post #23 of 35
(1915 views)
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Too late. I'm keeping the hat.
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Feb 26 2015, 6:33pm
Post #25 of 35
(1910 views)
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Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. Ataahua's stories
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