Water Volume Comparison

[hitchcockgreen]

A while back there was a graphic circulating from NASA that showed just how much water volume there was on the earth.

They presented the total water in a sphere shape to scale with the size of the Earth. Much less than I had ever imagined.

Then they released a comparison with the water volume on Europa... Europa actually has more water than the Earth.

Given that life on Earth was greatly dependent on the period in which the whole planet was encased in a few kilometers of ice with water below, this certainly makes the prospect of exploration of Europa all that more exciting.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

The cool aspect of Europa is we will be able to go really deep into the oceans since the surface gravity is only 4.3 ft/sec^2.

I wonder what the sensation would be swimming on Europa or our Moon? Splashes in slow motion. . .bubbles that look like they're in glycerin. . .

[hitchcockgreen]

The big obstacle being, of course, penetrating the icy crust and not contaminating the water below.

Once in, though, exploration should be relatively easy. Relaying information back might be a tad problematic.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Since it will most likely be totally unmanned robotics, contamination should be no issue.

[Dx.]

They presented the total water in a sphere shape to scale with the size of the Earth. Much less than I had ever imagined.

Then they released a comparison with the water volume on Europa... Europa actually has more water than the Earth.

Next they will tell you they can change the weather if you pay the carbon tax.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Oh, and 180 feet high diving boards would be no big deal.

[hitchcockgreen]

They presented the total water in a sphere shape to scale with the size of the Earth. Much less than I had ever imagined.

Then they released a comparison with the water volume on Europa... Europa actually has more water than the Earth.

Next they will tell you they can change the weather if you pay the carbon tax.

Carbon tax was always a stupid idea... but doesn't really have anything to do with the water volume of Europa

[Dx.]

Well who was on Europa and collected and measured the water? Same morons that know the water volume on Earth and can change the weather by taxing us. In other words, i don't buy it.

[FFAxTomcat480]

Earth could've been living in space by now at least exploring nearby planets + more - instead we had Hitler, Spock, The Cold War, & The Cuban Missile Crisis

[hitchcockgreen]

Earth could've been living in space by now at least exploring nearby planets + more - instead we had Hitler, Spock, The Cold War, & The Cuban Missile Crisis

Actually, it was the Cold War that got America on the Moon in the first place. Without it, I doubt we'd have visited even to this day.

Well who was on Europa and collected and measured the water? Same morons that know the water volume on Earth and can change the weather by taxing us. In other words, i don't buy it.

We don't have to go to Europa to measure water volume. It is, however, a educated best-guess at the precise number. In most parts of Europa the ice "crust" is about 3 km thick although they have found shallower parts.

Without any bearing on the whole climate change debate the volume of water on the surface of Earth is not really a debatable point - it's simply measured. Knowing the water volume and creating carbon taxes aren't even related.
It doesn't matter what the global temperature is, the water volume of the Earth does not change; only the state in which the water exists (i.e. liquid, solid or molecular atmosphere content)

[Dx.]

Without any bearing on the whole climate change debate the volume of water on the surface of Earth is not really a debatable point - it's simply measured.

We can't even go to depths water is nor do we know how much underground water there is yet you say it's simply measured.

What climate change debate, everyone knows the climate changes, that's like debating about water being wet.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

We can't even go to depths water is nor do we know how much underground water there is yet you say it's simply measured.

There are several ways it's approached. When the convergence of estimation reaches a satisfying margin of error, those that do planetary study "conclude" they have a viable answer. I have a friend at work that refuses to believe ...any... extra-solar planets have been discovered. No matter how many times it's explained and shown several different approaches agree within an acceptable tolerance.

Sam Harris offers a few minutes trying to explain esoteric science to those that find it too far-fetched.

[hitchcockgreen]

I have a friend at work that refuses to believe ...any... extra-solar planets have been discovered.

What? Seriously?

[hitchcockgreen]

We can't even go to depths water is nor do we know how much underground water there is yet you say it's simply measured.

What climate change debate, everyone knows the climate changes, that's like debating about water being wet.

Yeah but again, you're confusing science with politics.
The diagram shows surface water volume, which does not change much. Regardless of climate change or not (yes, there is climate change - the real debate is the levels to which humans contribute and how quickly it is changing).

As far as going those depths...didn't you hear? James Cameron recently went deeper than anyone has gone before then immediately surfaced and started funding asteroid mining.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

I have a couple of 6000 year people in my office, he's one of them.

[hitchcockgreen]

I have a couple of 6000 year people in my office, he's one of them.

You have my sympathies then.

It always amazes me that this mindset continues to exist in this day and age.
The very idea of deity worship just seems...well silly, to me.

[Dx.]

Actually Kahless is a 6ker too.
Humans don't contribute to how quickly it is changing, that is all politics.

[hitchcockgreen]

Actually Kahless is a 6ker too.
Humans don't contribute to how quickly it is changing, that is all politics.

Humans contribute to greenhouse gases. This is determined by identifying non-naturally occurring greenhouse compounds in the upper atmosphere - specifically man-made compounds.
The real question is exactly how much.

But that is neither here, nor there. The climate change debate has absolutely no bearing on a mathematical measurement of surface water.

Also: didn't know that about Kahless. Still, it astonishes me.

[FFAxTomcat480]

One thing is for certain, We'll need another planet to live on asap

[hitchcockgreen]

Some of us will. I certainly wouldn't want everyone on mars with me....