posted on Oct, 20 2010 @ 01:44 PM
reply to post by StealthyKat
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d61207fb9bb0.jpg[/atsimg]
To be frank I am a bit disturbed at the recent video postings from mid Oct onwards especially this one. In normal cases when we see gas bubbling up
(say like a pot of hot chocolate), the bubbles “pop” leaving circular depressions which then smoothed over due to the liquidity of the molten
chocolate. In soft marine clay, the depressions remain because of its cohesiveness and strength > 20kpa. In the video above, the light followed by
dark shadows are “pimple-like” relief spots while the dark grey shadows followed by light reflected faces are grooves or depressions (opposite of
side scan interpretation).
This is important as I am making the assumption that the color of the rov video had not been inversed ie white light inverted to dark grey. If the
seabed is more like “pimples (+ve relief)” (as opposed to pockmarks or pitted –ve relief), then the clay-rich pimples had been left behind from
the evaporation the methane calthrate making-up the mass of the clay-methane calthrate superficial (top) layer.
If it is the other way around, ie the seabed is pitted rather than pimpled, it means the superficial layer (top) comprises predominantly clay and the
evaporated gas (from below the layer) forces their through the clay layer to pop up as depressions. This is the normal case we see on most seafloor in
surveys around the world but not in this case from this video.
It is disturbing to see gas (methane) evaporating from the sea floor. It can only mean that the naturally stable methane calthrate at the present
seafloor level is no longer stable and evaporating, leaving behind spots or pimples of clay-richer sediment. The large flat shallow depressions
suggest that these patches of seafloor had already evaporated off. Eventually the clay-richer pimples will also disappear as the clay disintegrates
and disperses.
The other videos show some wires on the seabed and a coil hanging upright. Not sure what they mean but could it be some kind “electromagnetic”
thing? Funny the white bubbles seem to be flowing laterally (or could the ROV be moving?). To me it appears as if the bubbles were appearing out of
nowhere (methane gas separation from the water crystal structure?). I cannot be sure. Perhaps some chemists or physicists can help us out.
Regarding the larger wavy white “thing” turning colour and disappearing; it reminds me of:
A will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus (Latin, from ignis, "fire" + fatuus, "foolish"), also called will-o'-wisp, corpse candle, jack-o'-lantern, friar's
lantern, gunderslislik, and wisp, is a Folklore depiction of ghostly light sometimes seen at night or twilight over bogs, swamps, and marshes. It
resembles a flickering lamp and is sometimes said to recede if approached.
edit on 20-10-2010 by BK Lim because: (no reason given)
edit on 20-10-2010 by BK Lim because: (no reason
given)