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bemildred

(90,061 posts)
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 01:28 PM Aug 2012

Vast volcanic 'raft' found in Pacific, near New Zealand

Source: BBC

A vast "raft" of volcanic rocks covering 10,000 sq miles (26,000 sq km) of ocean has been spotted by a New Zealand military aircraft.

A naval ship was forced to change course in order to avoid the cluster of buoyant rocks, located 1,000 miles off the New Zealand coast.

The unusual phenomenon was probably the result of pumice being released from an underwater volcano, experts said.

One navy officer described it as the "weirdest thing" he had seen at sea.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19207810

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Vast volcanic 'raft' found in Pacific, near New Zealand (Original Post) bemildred Aug 2012 OP
Or are they really cleverly disguised Alien Dingleberries (R) Berlum Aug 2012 #1
Ruh Roh. TalkingDog Aug 2012 #2
Happened a few years ago elswhere in the Pacific near Tonga hobbit709 Aug 2012 #3
Great link! DeSwiss Aug 2012 #12
That's how some islands are formed dipsydoodle Aug 2012 #4
Probably good for removing barnacles from the hull Duer 157099 Aug 2012 #5
stick your feet in the water also, good for those as well! cbdo2007 Aug 2012 #6
I've seen similar formations of styrofoam packing "peanuts." hunter Aug 2012 #7
It's mine! I claim it! sofa king Aug 2012 #8
five more posts and you'll be at 7777! truthisfreedom Aug 2012 #9
Just flush it again. FailureToCommunicate Aug 2012 #10
Volcanos have floaters? StrictlyRockers Aug 2012 #11
LOVE your tag line! FailureToCommunicate Aug 2012 #13
That's just too funny! Odin2005 Aug 2012 #14

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
4. That's how some islands are formed
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 01:47 PM
Aug 2012

Santorini for example :

After the Minoan Eruption

Mount Thera did not die as a result of the eruption. It started to reform, eventually poking its tip above the water in 197 BC. A number of islands have formed and reformed in the centre of the caldera. At present there are two, known as Paleo Kameni (Old Burnt Island) and Nea Kameni (New Burnt Island). These have erupted sporadically over the centuries. Nea Kameni erupted as recently as 1950 and is still smoking even today. These are minor affairs, however, compared with the mind-boggling scale of the previous eruptions. Volcanoes are unpredictable things, but it is likely that the Thera volcano will continue to grow until it is once again a major mountain, and maybe blow its top again.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-lancashire/plain/A721117

hunter

(38,317 posts)
7. I've seen similar formations of styrofoam packing "peanuts."
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 02:16 PM
Aug 2012

I hope this really is pumice and not plastic.

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
8. It's mine! I claim it!
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 02:16 PM
Aug 2012

I hereby proclaim the Floating Kingdom of Sofa, of which I am sole regent. I'll be rowing out there with a bunch of tarps, zip ties, lawn chairs, and a bouncy-house which shall be my castle.

You bring the beer.

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