The Equatorial Channel

[Glen]

Okay, so the ASBs take away all nations that are intersected by the Equator. What happens?

[Mike Stearns]

Well, global trade becomes a hell of a lot easier, now that there are large natural water ways bisecting the equator. Also some African and South American coutries now have new sources of income from fishing and possibly from underwater oil drilling as well.

[Civilizer]

Bolivians stop complaining about their loss of coastline

[Nik]

Given that many frontiers are arbitrary or, worse, run down river etc that is natural spine of country -- Think Egypt !!-- here's a more natural idea...

Aulacogen is 'failed rift' where continental splitting & spreading took a fork at a triple-centre and left a stub hanging...

Mississippi lives in one, as do Amazon, Niger etc...

Have ASBs rejuvenate some rifting: Amazon becomes a seaway to the Andes, Niger etc zig-zag across to the Great Rift, which can either go to Red Sea corner, or South-East.

Okay, you've just robbed the Nile of its headwaters, but the fresh sea breeze may fix that.

[Glen]

And here is the lonely world of Equatoria, the Earth where the ASBs removed everything but the countries on the Equator.

[Civilizer]

Peru doesn't touch the equator? I think it might just reach it

[Glen]

Peru doesn't touch the equator? I think it might just reach it

I checked using MSN Encarta World Atlas. It gets mighty, mighty close, but no, it doesn't actually touch it.

[Glen]

Given that many frontiers are arbitrary or, worse, run down river etc that is natural spine of country -- Think Egypt !!-- here's a more natural idea...

Aulacogen is 'failed rift' where continental splitting & spreading took a fork at a triple-centre and left a stub hanging...

Mississippi lives in one, as do Amazon, Niger etc...

Have ASBs rejuvenate some rifting: Amazon becomes a seaway to the Andes, Niger etc zig-zag across to the Great Rift, which can either go to Red Sea corner, or South-East.

Okay, you've just robbed the Nile of its headwaters, but the fresh sea breeze may fix that.


Cool idea. Can you do up a map of this?

[NomadicSky]

Brazil is king of the world here

[Glen]

Brazil is king of the world here

Don't be too certain, Indonesia has a huge population compared to most of the rest....

Probably this turns into a bipolar world between the Brazilians and Indonesians. Just a guess.

They Brazilians in this smaller world are sorta like the USA, and Indonesia is sorta like China. No Russia....

[reformer]

I hate too say this, but thoes countries dissapeering wouldn't make that huge of a difference. Other than making Africa WAY more habitable.

[Darkest]

Other than people rioting and going all doomsday.

Seriously, you gotta take the psychological aspect of all these ISOTs. Suddenly a part of the world just DISSAPPEARS!? People could take that all sorts of ways. Religion, aliens, it'll have repercussions.

Also, doesn't Brazil have some export that we might want? Can't remember what, but that large of a landmass must be supplying something to the rest of the world. And suddenly they don't have it.

Oh yeah, and unless the Africans of Equatoria band together, their lands are going to be taken over by Brazil or Indonesia. Ultimately, I think that Brazil will rule this small world.

[Glen]

I hate too say this, but thoes countries dissapeering wouldn't make that huge of a difference. Other than making Africa WAY more habitable.

Well, they would probably make a difference to their neighbors. And talk about some differences for some. Venezuela and the Guianas are now a large island. Don't know if Peru, Chile, and Argentina can still count as a continent.

In Africa, there will be some new coastal property and shipping lanes, that might stimulate trade. Southern Africa is now an island continent, and that has got to feel different to them.

Malaysia will probably not be certain whether to mourn or be relieved that Indonesia is gone.

Overall, you are right. Actually, it is probably much more interesting what happens to those isolated Equitorial nations....

[Nik]

Equatorial Aulacogens : map ?

Sorry, I can't post directly, but enjoy...

http://geowords.com/histbooknetscape/g24.htm

http://www.le.ac.uk/geology/art/gl209/lecture3/lecture3.html

for background, then a lovely map chopping up Africa...

http://www.mantleplumes.org/SAtlantic.html
http://www.mantleplumes.org/images/TristanFig7_700.gif

and one with both animation ...

http://ve.ou.edu/weaver/rifts/rifts.htm

and a must-explore, the Paleomap site.

http://www.scotese.com/Default.htm

[Nik]

Hmm, if the Cameroon Rift should flex a bit...

http://id-archserve.ucsb.edu/Anth3/Courseware/OlduvaiForm/3_Tectonic_History_Africa.html

I suppose it would be like the Red Sea & Persian Gulf, only hotter & dryer...

Okay, so there's a travelling hot-spot currently sat under volcanic Mt Cameroon, straining both the Cameroon Rift and the older Benue Trough...

Looks like NW Africa would tend to rotate clockwise, perhaps closing Gibralter Straight. I reckon erosion / tidal scouring would keep a sea-way.

Having Cameroon Rift open at sea-level would change the pattern of rivers...

Ideas ??

Another piccy...
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geos577/projects/mooney/Mechanics.htm

[Civilizer]

Well, in south america there is also still Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. If Europe , oceania, and Antarctica count as continets, this should too. Also, the Bolivians realize their lack of coast is not the cause of their backwardness and actually decide to try to get a stable, good government working.

[Glen]

I still love these two maps. There is something very compelling about them.

Wonder what would happen in these two worlds?

[Glen]

I still love these two maps. There is something very compelling about them.

Wonder what would happen in these two worlds?

[PoorBoy]

Well, in the sans equateur map, shipping will be much easier with the Great Equatorial Current going east to west, or is it the other way?

Panama is semi-doomed, depending on how they react. No point on keeping that canal. To save themselves, they must think of themselves as the jumping point from North America to the rump South America. Who knows, they might become the next Singapore...

The Nile is not yet dry...there's still Ethiopia.

[danielb1]

The people that will be most upset with the disappearances will be coffee drinkers. Colombia, Brazil, and Indonesia are all major sources of coffee, Brazil and Colombia being the top 2.

And I'm not a coffee drinker, so I shouldn't've been the first to point that out :p.

Oh, and Gabon and Indonesia both have oil, for whatever that's worth.

[Glen]

Well, in the sans equateur map, shipping will be much easier with the Great Equatorial Current going east to west, or is it the other way?

Either way its a good point.

[QUTOE]
Panama is semi-doomed, depending on how they react. No point on keeping that canal. To save themselves, they must think of themselves as the jumping point from North America to the rump South America. Who knows, they might become the next Singapore...[/QUOTE]

Ooooh...I like that idea!


The Nile is not yet dry...there's still Ethiopia.

Good to know.

[Glen]

The people that will be most upset with the disappearances will be coffee drinkers. Colombia, Brazil, and Indonesia are all major sources of coffee, Brazil and Colombia being the top 2.

Good point. Jamaican, Costa Rican, Hawaiian, and Ethiopian blends are all still available, though.


And I'm not a coffee drinker, so I shouldn't've been the first to point that out :p.

Some things people simply can't face.:rolleyes:

Oh, and Gabon and Indonesia both have oil, for whatever that's worth.

A lot...

[Straha]

the ice caps melt due to the new eqautorial ring current.

[Brandonazz]

Nobody has brought it up yet, but think of how much WATER will take the place of the equatorial land. Water levels globally will drop. What will happen b/c of that? I'm thinking since 80%* of the global population lives near water, that is where property values are highest. Mass urban expansion.

*- Might be 90%, includes lakes and rivers
the ice caps melt due to the new eqautorial ring current.

Doubt it. What I think will happen though is a greater temperature difference between the areas farther from the equator, and the ones closer. The currents that bring heat from the equator would be messed up, circling the globe, and areas like canada and russia/northern europe would freeze over. Austrailia wouldn't be in such a good mood either. The Ideal climate will end up being around the tropics (capricorn and cancer). Since the temperature farther north would be cooling, I see the ice caps growing even larger. Again, the water level falls, and there is an ice age far from the equator, where temperatures are extrememly high. :D

[Glen]

the ice caps melt due to the new eqautorial ring current.

Why would they MELT?

[Glen]

Nobody has brought it up yet, but think of how much WATER will take the place of the equatorial land. Water levels globally will drop. What will happen b/c of that? I'm thinking since 80%* of the global population lives near water, that is where property values are highest. Mass urban expansion.

*- Might be 90%, includes lakes and rivers

No change. Water is replacing the absent landmasses.


Doubt it. What I think will happen though is a greater temperature difference between the areas farther from the equator, and the ones closer. The currents that bring heat from the equator would be messed up, circling the globe, and areas like canada and russia/northern europe would freeze over. Austrailia wouldn't be in such a good mood either. The Ideal climate will end up being around the tropics (capricorn and cancer). Since the temperature farther north would be cooling, I see the ice caps growing even larger. Again, the water level falls, and there is an ice age far from the equator, where temperatures are extrememly high. :D

I wonder if that would be true or not. The Equitoral Channel is going to have an effect, but I'm not certain it would be that effect.

As for Equitoria, they'd probably develop a more moderated climate overall being mostly surrounded by water...

[Othniel]

I can't be certain but aren't parts of the Congo below sea-level? I seem to remeber a giant swamp... Here it looks like at first it turns into a giant estuary...

[Glen]

I can't be certain but aren't parts of the Congo below sea-level? I seem to remeber a giant swamp... Here it looks like at first it turns into a giant estuary...

Anyone have a relief map?

[Othniel]

Anyone have a relief map?
http://www.waterandnature.org/eatlas/jpeg/landcover/LC_CONGO.jpg

http://www.waterandnature.org/eatlas/jpeg/bio/BIO_CONG.jpg

[Glen]

Ah, but it doesn't denote if any is under sea level....

[mattep74]

Most of the countries that vanish arent to important to the trade since they are developing nations. The nation that will be missed the most is Brazil since then their fotballteam is lost

[Glen]

Most of the countries that vanish arent to important to the trade since they are developing nations. The nation that will be missed the most is Brazil since then their fotballteam is lost

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Somehow, the rest of the South American futbol community will carry on, I'm sure. More seeds for the next world cup to go around!

And note that at least two world cup teams went with the countries vanishing, Brazil and mighty Ecuador!

[sbegin]

I think the Gulf Steam comes from below the equator, goes north along the coast, and then heads out towards Europe - if there is an opening at the equator, it might head west instead - so, Europe and North America doesn't get the warm current, and quickly cools down. People want to migrate south, but, there no more land available! Big fight for better, more tropical lands? Maybe the "heart" of Africa is opened up, as it's no longer a jungle interior?

[Othniel]

Ah, but it doesn't denote if any is under sea level....
But it does denote a large river basin.

[DuQuense]

remember the Circulation of the Current is caused by the rotation of the Earth [corillis effect -sp?]

The Gulf Stream starts in the Gulf of Mexico [Duh] exit thru the Florida channel, heads north to new england, west to ireland, where it splits. a Small part goes north along Norway, most turns south till it hits north africa then west returning to the Caribean thru the Windward Passages. this is far enuff north of the Equartor not to be much affected.

[Glen]

I think the Gulf Steam comes from below the equator, goes north along the coast, and then heads out towards Europe - if there is an opening at the equator, it might head west instead - so, Europe and North America doesn't get the warm current, and quickly cools down. People want to migrate south, but, there no more land available! Big fight for better, more tropical lands? Maybe the "heart" of Africa is opened up, as it's no longer a jungle interior?

That appears to not be the case. To the best of my ability to discern, it looks like the North Equatorial Current actually never goes to the Equator, that being where the Equatorial Counter Current is.

It appears to hit South America on the Guiana Coast.

The Gulf Stream should be still functioning. Europe is reprieved.

[At-Bari]

Wouldn't the 2nd World be quite windy? :eek:

[Glen]

Wouldn't the 2nd World be quite windy? :eek:

Perhaps, perhaps not.

[dittomitto2445]

south africa conquers the rest of ther landmass

[Glen]

south africa conquers the rest of ther landmass

I don't see how the loss of a few central African nations leads to this.

[At-Bari]

I always find those "small islands in water earth scenarios" a little scary. :o

[Fyrwulf]

Congo's gone, right? There goes the major source of the world's more nasty viruses.

[Max Sinister]

And you ain't wrong with that... on a world with such a big ocean, the hurricanes would be even more horrible than on Earth. (Of course, the ASBs could do something against that, if they want...)

[Glen]

And you ain't wrong with that... on a world with such a big ocean, the hurricanes would be even more horrible than on Earth. (Of course, the ASBs could do something against that, if they want...)

Naw, let's go with the horrible hurricanes.

[Glen]

And you ain't wrong with that... on a world with such a big ocean, the hurricanes would be even more horrible than on Earth. (Of course, the ASBs could do something against that, if they want...)

Naw, let's go with the horrible hurricanes.

[The Professor]

Congo's gone, right? There goes the major source of the world's more nasty viruses.
And unfortunately those rather nice Bonobos:(

[Glen]

And unfortunately those rather nice Bonobos:(

True. They are all now in the land of the Big Hurricane!:eek: