What about DGC?

[najab]

Any word on the situation at Diego Garcia? The first report I saw said that there was no damage, but I wouldn't be suprised if that's just the 'official' report - after all, nothing <b>ever</b> goes wrong at a base supporting ongoing operations.<img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /><p>If there has been significant damage, how would that affect RTF? How important is DGC in Shuttle ops these days?</p>

 

[nacnud]

The main base at DGC appears to be on the Eastern side of the island and the wave would have come from the West. The wave would have defiantly have passed this location on its way to Kenya where I have seen picture of it making landfall and washing many boats out to sea. <br /><br />The size of the wave as it hit would have been determined by the shape of the ocean floor. If the profile is very steep, like a cliff, all the way down to the abyssal planes then the wave would have been relatively small as it wouldn't have the opportunity to bunch up into a wall. The shallower the profile the larger the wave would be at landfall.<br /><br />The other point to note is that they could have had warning of the coming wave from military or other sources but didn't have time to get the word out any further.<br /><br />However looking at the map (below) it appears the island is an atoll with a steep ocean floor profile. I think that this and that the base is on the eastern side of the island is what stopped the damage rather than warnings. <br />

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Yeah, what goes on at DGC? Is it a tracking station or something? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[najab]

Diego Garcia is a US/UK naval base. It used to serve as an emergency landing site for the Shuttle as well as being the backup communications/tracking centre. I'm not sure if those functions are still performed there.

 

[larper]

<font color="yellow">The main base at DGC appears to be on the Eastern side of the island and the wave would have come from the West. The wave would have defiantly have passed this location on its way to Kenya where I have seen picture of it making landfall and washing many boats out to sea</font><br />I think you have your compass backwards <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Vote </font><font color="#3366ff">Libertarian</font></strong></p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Er.... I was standing on my head? DOH <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[steve82]

Word I found in another blog was that they got through ok and the P-3's are up surveying damage and assisting in recovery.

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Heres the "correct" snapshoot of the Atoll taken from Nasa's Worldwind. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>