Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ocean

Vacation Destination!

kbanas — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:56:50 -0800

Topical Resortfilter! We're planning a vacation for sometime in 2010, and I have in my mind's eye the image of a every particular kind of resort in a tropical paradise. You've probably seen it before.... There is a long dock that protrudes far out into a calm, clear sea... and there are, well, these bungalows, I guess, would be the best word - these wonderful thatch roof looking abodes that sit out in the water on stilts or something and there's even, I think, a place where the floor is open so you can look down into the water, and it's private and beautiful and awesome.

I have seen places like this before. In advertisements. In forwards from friends that say things like, "Wouldn't you rather be here than at your crappy job?" Ha!

Well, I'm not sure I could afford it, but I think they exist, and I just don't know the Google terminology to even try to search for them. So lend a hand! Do you know of a resort like this? Does it have a website?

Please name this seemingly ungooglable 80s cartoon

Dormant Gorilla — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:00:52 -0800

What is this 80s cartoon about some possibly magical woman who lived under the ocean? Ok, this one's a bit of a longshot. Asking for a friend- google has failed us. There was a cartoon in the 80s- this is my friend's description verbatim: "some magical young woman dressed in white lived under the sea and some guy escorted her around the world under the ocean and mostly they ran away from pirates. She might have been part computer sort of. And there was a song called something like Pirates Under the Sea." And it was on Saturday morning cartoons.

I am going to go right ahead and apologize for the ridiculousness of this question but this is one of those things where if we don't figure it out it might come to blows. If anyone knows this I will buy you a popsicle.

What can you see in satellite photos?

k. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:33:01 -0800

Satellite photos: what interesting features can be seen or measured in them (or other aerial photos), and where can I get a supply of images? Examples I have already seen, from some crude Google-searching:
Roads
Buildings
Degree of development (urban/suburban/rural)
Oil spills (apparently these are usually hard to see)
Blooms of algae (cyanobacteria) in the Baltic Sea
Damage to buildings from earthquakes

More would be appreciated--the more specific, the better. These will be used in a computer vision system, so I'd especially like to know where I can find a supply of images containing whatever feature I'm looking for (including the above)--easy for buildings or roads, but hard for rare events like oil spills. Natural disasters seem interesting, if there are pictures available.

I would also consider some other kind of non-photographic data as well, if it could be combined with maps or photos. Don't worry whether you think it's suitable; any idea you have will help!

Offsetting sea level rise: An engineering idea of Biblical proportions

0bvious — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:52:25 -0800

The seas are rising. Climate change has made it inevitable. I have a strange question... Assuming that world sea-level rises by 1 metre over the next hundred years - Would it be possible to cordon off a section of land, somewhere in the centre of a continent, and flood it to create an artificial ocean, thus reducing the consequences of the sea rise? This Biblical scale engineering feat must take these issues into account:

1. The section of land would have to be a very large 'bowl', in the centre of a continent, that is already below sea level. Another section of land, leading from the ocean to this central 'bowl' section, would have to be carved out to create the biggest dam system mankind has ever witnessed. Does somewhere like this exist?

2. The number of humans currently living in this 'bowl' would have to be less than the number of humans who would be displaced by the 1 metre sea level rise. Otherwise this huge engineering feat would not be worth undertaking.

3. Other environmental issues should be taken into account, such as the ecosystems that would be displaced or the new weather patterns and ocean currents that would be created.

Do you have the calculations of water/land displaced? Or ideas about where this kind of thing could be built? I'd love any input on this monstrous thought experiment.

Thanks!

Shipwrecked!

AngerBoy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:39:29 -0800

Is there any way of determining what percentage of ships arrived safely at their destinations - or did not - during a given period in history? I'm struck by how prevalent the imagery of shipwrecks has been in literature throughout history. I'm talking about shipwrecks as plot points in stories and plays, as a metaphor in poetry, and so on.

And I'd guess that, depending on when the author or poet was writing, their work might be more or less likely to feature shipwrecks depending on how common such accidents were at the time.

But, so far, I haven't found any way of finding out precisely how likely it was that any given trip at sea would have been to end in disaster during any given time in history. Do we think that 80% of journeys ended successfully? 60%? 40%? Did the numbers change appreciably between, say, the 13th century and the 17th?

I'm not sure if there's any verifiable way of getting these answers, but the more examples I came across, the more I realized that I had absolutely NO idea how frightening and/or grimly realistic the idea of shipwrecks would have been for Shakespeare's audience, or Homer's, or Wordsworth's.

Any knowledge of the subject (even anecdotal) or suggestions about books or websites to read would be great!

Seeking East Coast Creepy Crawlies

Sublimity — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:12:25 -0800

Tidepooling near Boston? My family is visiting Boston and environs next week as we prepare to move out there from Seattle.

Apparently there's an unusally low tide next Tuesday and my husband the biologist would like to go tidepooling, to see what kind of interesting creatures lurk at the edge of the water on the other side of the continent...

We are pretty much completely unfamiliar with the area and will have use of a rental car. Something within say an hour of the city would be best, I think...Can anyone offer suggestions of good beaches to visit for this sort of thing? Thanks!

Drinking in International Waters/ Cruise Recommendations?

slowcat — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:36:34 -0800

My sister and I want to take a cheap cruise over the summer. I'm 22, but she's 19. Are there cruise lines that let you drink at 19 in international waters? Also, does anyone have any recommendations for cheap-ish (doesn't have to be dirt cheap, just reasonable) and fun cruises?

When it comes to those lost at sea I'm...well I'm lost at sea myself

rileyray3000 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:01:05 -0800

Is there a book or museum or resource that specifically lists the stories of people who survived in Lifeboats? I need a LOT of personal stories of people who had to live in lifeboats and I'm having trouble finding them. I've tried one or two maritime museums, a lot web searching and one call to the coast guard where I think THEY thought I was pranking them. Because they hung up.

I don't need books, or even long stories. What I need is "1938, SS Coleman went down in the atlantic. Nine people survived in a wooden lifeboat for sixteen days. They had a candle, some cans, matches and a blanket. They were picked up by a swedish trawler."

And some rough biographical info on the people would be great too.

Frankly I thought this would be some statistical database somewhere but, if it is, I can't find it.

Oceanfront property?

iamisaid — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:29:18 -0800

Are there any areas of the coastal United States where one can live on the oceanfront relatively cheaply? Let's say a person wanted to rent a cabin or cottage on the oceanfront to live for a year or longer, preferably in an area that's relatively uninhabited/undeveloped, without regard to where it's located. Let's also say this person isn't obscenely wealthy. Are there any particular areas of the country where this might be feasible?

Strange plant at Montaña de Oro

Korou — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:25:38 -0800

I found a strange ocean plant at Montaña de Oro. Can you help identify it? This was in an ocean-side canyon and was somewhat squishy.

Here's a back shot. And a second front and back.

What is this strange sea creature?

miffed — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:09:06 -0800

Can anyone identify this mysterious sea creature? My sister saw four of them swimming at the surface in Boca Raton, FL. They were undulating like squids; when contracted they look like black slugs, when stretched they look like that fellow in the photo. An entire crowd formed to watch, as they were so very weird.

Ground+Ocean+Ground freight from the USA to Pakistan?

thewalrus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:56:05 -0800

I need to find a freight forwarder that can arrange all of the details for door-to-door shipping of a 20' x 8'6" ISO standard cargo container from the west coast of the USA to Pakistan. I am doing some consulting work for a firm that needs to have a 20' cargo container shipped from a US west coast origin to Pakistan. The container will be a very standard 20' x 8'6" dry cargo unit picked up from an origin along the I-5 freeway. The freight forwarder should have a strong track record of successful operations in Pakistan and at least Urdu speaking staff member.

Startech syngas

Mr_Zero — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:55:38 -0800

Can Startech's syngas power a ocean capable ships engine? I am trying to determine if you could power an ocean going ship with syngas.

Are there natural disasters in the deep ocean?

Flunkie — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:59:18 -0800

Are there natural disasters in the deep ocean? Up here, we've got hurricanes, and earthquakes, and tsunamis, and tornados, and mudslides, and wild fires, and volcanos, and you name it.

And I assume that some of these things have significant effects near the surface of the ocean, or near the ocean floor.

But what about the deep ocean, far from both the surface and the floor? Are there any significant natural disasters of the same scale, striking suddenly and leaving vast swaths of fish with many dead and the rest wondering "what the hell was that"?

To be clear up front, I'm talking about natural disasters, not disasters clearly caused by human activity (such as dead zones due to pollution or strip trawling).

How long can you tread water?

doift — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:15:58 -0800

If everyone in the world got in the ocean at the same time, how much would sea levels rise? I'm leaving aside various practical questions about how this would be arranged, of course. If everyone in the world got in the oceans, say, up to their necks, how much water would be displaced, and how would sea level be affected? What are the elements necessary to construct the formula to work this out?

Scatter Scatter Everywhere!

littleredwagon — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:33:51 -0800

At what point along the East Coast is the Gulf Stream closest to the shore? By request, of our now deceased father, my sister and I have been asked to scatter his ashes in the Gulf Stream. Looking for the closest spot off the shore of the East Coast so the trip to sea is pleasant and not too long.

Thanks hivemind!

Gulf Coast Getaways

freshwater_pr0n — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:40:16 -0800

Help me find a beach getaway in Texas that's cheap and easy enough to let me do it a few times a year when the mood strikes me. I hate flying and driving, so my options are limited to places that are serviced by Greyhound or regional bus companies. No out-of-the-way small towns, but most big towns are go. Most places in Texas are hard to manage without a car, especially when you don't know your way around. My ideal vacation spot will put me in a hotel where I can go to the beach every day, walk to enough restaurants and grocery stores to keep me fed, and maybe even provide some nightlife, used-book shopping or local color.

As for lodging, I'm interested both in cheap but not scary *and* pricier but worth it.

Guide to operations of cargo containers?

thewalrus — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:55:36 -0800

About six months ago I found a German website (English language) with an excellent guide to the various types of ISO cargo containers, their specifications/schematics and operational tips of how to load and secure cargo. I've lost the link and can't find it again... The website contained either a very large PDF (about 45MB?) or a set of PDFs about the various types of ISO cargo containers. There were illustrations and schematics of "do" and "don't" examples for various types of bulk or packaged cargo. It was primarily concerned with standard 20', 40' and 45' containers but also covered tank containers, flatbed, side-opening, open-top and other common types.

I do remember it was definitely published by a group somewhere in western Europe, and free for everyone to download and read.

The organization publishing the guide was some sort of non-profit / quasi governmental agency, or a umbrella organization run by a group of Insurance companies. Its goal seemed to be to teach companies how to efficiently and safely use ISO cargo containers. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Please help me find the link...

Is there an ichthyologist in the house?

funkiwan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:17:22 -0800

Please help me identify this fish that I found in NYC along the Hudson River. Here's a couple of shots I took with various feet included for a sense of scale. Unfortunately my cell camera quality is dooky. I found this specimen while biking along the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway at around 116th St. It was in the grassy area between the river and the bike path.

Finding Fun On The Freighter

vagabond — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:52:10 -0800

I have booked room on a freighter from Pusan to Long Beach. I'm now looking for some tips advice on what to pack and or things I need to prepare myself for during my ten days at sea. Anyone taken the slow boat home before?

Mystery fish

efalk — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:54:11 -0800

Please help me identify a fish that washed up on a Pacific Ocean beach in Oregon. (warning in advance, a few pictures could be considered gory)

I have a few pictures of a fish that beached itself while I was taking a walk. A better explanation is posted under the pictures themselves. If anyone can identify it, i'd be most appreciative. Thanks in advance for any help.

I may not be able to respond to requests for more information for a few days.

SHRED

allkindsoftime — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:36:49 -0800

Surf's-up-filter: I need the body of a surf god, for mainly functional purposes (although I'm sure the side benefits will be great, too). Recently picked up surfing again after about a decade off, for the most part, and I've realized I am completely not in shape - after getting out for 3 or 4 rides in rough surf I am toast for the day - and that's on a long board, sadly enough.

I run about 6 miles a day so I'm in great aerobic shape, but my upper body strength has completely dropped off - no lifting or anything in the last few years. I'll likely be back in NYC for the next year, where my window for surf is relatively small, but hoping to move back to California after that, doing grad school somewhere near enough to the ocean to surf every morning. I want to be in shape before I get there though.

So, for one year in the city, with limited time to devote to actual surfing, what are the best work-out tactics / diet-tricks to be in peak physical condition to start shredding when I move back west?

So far I plan to look for a lap pool and start replacing about half of my running with swimming, so suggestions for a cheap, decent pool in the city are welcome. Beyond that, dropping some of the perpetual junk food from the diet and getting more fiber / protein and fruits / veggies. What are your top tricks for getting ripped to ride?

Thanks wave-riders.

Should I Helio or not?

FergieBelle — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:53:18 -0800

Please tell me about your experience with Helio, the cell phone provider... I am considering switching to Helio for cell service. I like their Ocean phone and the price is definitely right. However, I've heard the company is not exactly solvent so that makes me reconsider switching from T-Mobile after 7 years.
What is Helio like? Any service issues? Any problems with their phones? I am in the Atlanta metro area, if that makes any difference. Do tell...

Video of Space Waves

wavejumper — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:23:54 -0800

Can you think of any good video clips of waveforms in space that you've seen? They don't necessarily have to be copyright free (this is for a personal project), but they do need to be good quality and accessible to me within a few days - I'm doing this project at DVD resolution, 720 X 480... Specifically, I'm looking for a match to this shot.

To communicate the connection between "cosmic waves" :-) and the most impressive ones visible on earth - ocean waves.
I could use explosions, supernovas, math renderings, whatever as long as it could match up with an ocean-wave shot.
Thanks!

Maine coast restaurant with stupendous ocean view?

fx3000 — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:38:12 -0800

I am looking for a Maine coast restaurant with a really awesome ocean view. It needs to open be year round as I am looking to go around New Years. Preferably it's not more than an hour north of Portland and south of it is even better. Oh and good food too! :)