KAI, are you here yet ??

[justjohn]

Has anybody heard from KAI of the North? A short while back we got into a discussion on the perma frost of Alaska melting.

Here is an interesting add-on.

Rupture in the Alaska Oil Pipeline

The Alaska pipeline was built to withstand everything its designers could think of. But the supports for the pipeline are anchored in permafrost, which is now melting. Up to a third of the uprights are out of alignment, and more will be at risk if the thaw continues. A pipeline break would jeopardize 1 billion barrels of oil per day - 17 percent of the nation's capacity.
Likelihood: Low. (Admitting you have a problem is the first step to fixing it.)
People affected: Entire US population, potentially

[bescheid]

John

I some how was under the impression that the design of the pipe supports incorporated a natural refrideration design to prevent the perma frost from melting out from the supports. Guess I learned wrong.

Charles

[Bob S]

;D Skeeter. I think Kai is still enjoying his skiing up there in Alaska. Maybe he ran into a snow-bank and still has not dug out to freedom. LOL ;D

[kaima]

I have survived the rain-snow mix, the visit of a cousin and another week at work. I am working on an answer & yes, you are right - John & CHarles. Bob, the snow is SADLY lacking! The skis are ready, the spirit is willing and the body capable (at least as of the last testing) but the snow is lacking. Oh, last week I fialed to do a 360 on cross country skis. I made 270 but screwed up the edging at 270. I had to go high in the mountians to find that much snow.


I haven't heard of up to a third of the pipeline supports being out of alignment, but if the "frozen bulb" that the special supports produce (see, you were right, Charles!) floats around in a thawed bulb, then ....

Maybe I should rig the car to drive on crude oil!

Kai
tapseis.anl.gov/guide/
and for a different and pretty decent show on permafrost,
arctic.fws.gov/ permcycl.htm

Kai

[kaima]

4:18 here & Just had a nice wake-em-up earthquake. Will check the statistics soon & see how powerful it was. Don't believe over a 5. 4.3 to 5?

Kai the Guesser

[kaima]

The Gee Whiz rates it as best guess 4.39 12 miles NW of here and about 27 miles deep.
www.aeic.alaska.edu/Seis/recenteqs_sub/quakes/2005323_evid107282/evid107282.html

That second link above should have been
arctic.fws.gov/ permcycl.htm

Now you all know we have the largest bears in the world, the largest moose and we have polar bears and even a few pretty nasty people... but can any of you answer the question: What is the scariest animal in Alaska? Ohe hint: think kindergarten answer. It is that simple.

Kai

[nancy]

kaima said:

The Gee Whiz rates it as best guess 4.39 12 miles NW of here and about 27 miles deep.

We had a measly 2.5 here in Massachusetts yesterday. JustJohn actually is the one who told me about it - it did not register where I live and I missed the news (I guess - I certainly did not notice any earth shaking).)

The scary part is that the epicenter was only about 2 miles away from the local nuclear power plant .....

[Bob S]

kaima said:

The Gee Whiz rates it as best guess 4.39 12 miles NW of here and about 27 miles deep.
www.aeic.alaska.edu/Seis/recenteqs_sub/quakes/2005323_evid107282/evid107282.html

That second link above should have been
arctic.fws.gov/ permcycl.htm

[Now you all know we have the largest bears in the world, the largest moose and we have polar bears and even a few pretty nasty people... but can any of you answer the question: What is the scariest animal in Alaska? Ohe hint: think kindergarten answer. It is that simple.Kai]

Well you have very young children and then you have bear cubs and you do not get near those bear cubs even if they look cute and want to play; mama bear is nearby even if you can't see her. Just a guess. ;D

[nancy]

dinosaurs

[kaima]

Charles, the original developer of the thermosyphon is Erv Long, who is still in business in Anchorage, Alaska. www.arcticfoundations.com/files/about.htm
Douglas, maybe McDoneald Douglas, and the Alyeska pipeline company took his ddevelopment and used it without permission (I will not say stole, will I?) to build the pipeline supports. A few decades later he lived long enough and reached a settlement with them. To me that shows how big industry can run over a creative fellow.

In any case it is pretty darned effective and quite revolutionary.

[kaima]

Ok, The scariest animal is none of the above guesses ... i

t is..

the cari...







BOO !!

(caribou).

Great for kindergarteners.

[justjohn]

nancy said:

kaima said:

The Gee Whiz rates it as best guess 4.39 12 miles NW of here and about 27 miles deep.

We had a measly 2.5 here in Massachusetts yesterday. JustJohn actually is the one who told me about it - it did not register where I live and I missed the news (I guess - I certainly did not notice any earth shaking).)

The scary part is that the epicenter was only about 2 miles away from the local nuclear power plant .....

My wifes cousins and uncle lived in Sitka, Alaska for many years. They are survivors of the 1964 earthquake. They just got off the evacuation ferry when the bay drained.

[Bob S]

;D Thanks for the grin and the play on words Kai "Caribou". Well I only guessed and my guess was wrong but your answer did not make me feel too bad. LOL ;D