Earth splitting into two?

[kwicky]

It has been reported by scientists that there is a split in the Earths crust thousands of kms long in middle of the pacific. How should we prepare for this eventuality?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6405667.stm

[coco pops]

Not much point in worrying about a repair job cos probably nothing can be done. Flood defences for areas around incase it set of a tsunami ?

[mibn2cweus]

This posses a danger that the Pacific Ocean will develop a leak and drain into Middle Earth.

Run Frodo Run!

[kwicky]

Sorry, misprint should be Atlantic. A split in that region would probably divide at the equator so Gordon Brown's pet project concerning Africa will create a planetary problem and probably unsolvable.

[jake-the-peg]

Liquid lunch Kwicky?

[Avatar]

Buy some wellies.

[honest_joe]

I think some of these posts are making light of the matter. This could turn out to be a serious matter. The fracture probably caused by the tectonic plates movement is not being repaired by the molten magna. Although a complete split is unlikely any weakness might cause yet unknown problems. I intend to follow the outcome with interest.

[kwicky]

Yes I agree Joe, I suppose when that scientist discovered the hole in the ozone layer he was thought to be a crank. This discovery may be of equal importance!!

[gen2]

This is nothing new. It must have been there for millions of years if it is hundreds of kilometres wide. Continental drift is widening the Atlantic by just a few centimetres a year so it didn't happen overnight. Nothing to worry about unless you are concerned about a few abyssal lifeforms falling over the edge! Scientists are going to look at it to help them to more accurately understand plate tectonics.

Finally, this is definitely not a a crack in the earth that threatens to slplit it in two. No more than you are in danger of splitting in two if you happen to nick your skin shaving.

[Whickerman]

Crikey - break out the stapler guns...

Seriously, if the Earth splits, what good can come of worrying? Really, stress about the things you can change, and leave the other stuff behind, you can do nothing about it.

[kwicky]

Qu. What gives the Earth its strength when the core is molten and the mantle section is less so? The thin outer section the crust is the most brittle. You could say the Earth has composition of an egg.
Without any crust (what the scientists have found) imagine the devastation that could be caused by a wayward asteroid hitting the Earth at this its weakest point. We never did find out how the dinosaurs disappeared did we?

.

[brachiopod]

As an avid Daily Mail reader, I find it appalling that Tony Blair has allowed this to happen.

I mean, what is wrong with a decent, proper basaltic intrusion along a mid-oceanic ridge?

Now, all I hear under this Labour government, is that our crustal extensions are being filled with magmatic material called serpentinite of all things.

Does he realise the damage that his olivine-rich rocks are doing? We bought our second home down here in Cornwall, so that Jocasta and Chlamydia could have a decent, (private) education. Now we find out that the whole of the South-West peninsular (well, our garden, actually - it's the same thing) is full of this serpentine stuff.

I mean, is it dangerous? Poisonous? And could the locals bring it in on their boots?

I contacted the chap at the Council who was most unhelpful, and tried to wriggle out of it by saying it was just a load of hypersthene.

[stewey]

Answer: buy lots of Duct-Tape.
Also keep in mind that "scientists" attempt to predict the weather............sometimes 3 days in advance!!

[Champagne]

Oh great. Yet another weakness in the Earth's structural stability is all we need. This planet is falling apart! We either need a helluva lot of sellotape and polyfilla, or else we take on Stephen Hawkings' suggestion of humanity needing to colonise the solar system and beyond if it wants to survive

[tigerlily11]

If it a hole thats not filling with magma and healing itself then wouldn't it just fill with water and lower the level of the Atlantic.
Just a thought from the uneducated eye.

[kwicky]

Well we have had quite a lot of scares recently. Hole in the ozone layer; global warming; Ice caps melting; bird flu; tornados, etc. If our children are to survive we should treat each with equal importance.

[clairey-s]

dig out your snorkels, people...

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