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what are the chances of smaller, non death of all mankind leaks that would damage the data center? likely higher than elsewhere, no? so that wouldn't an be amaz

by make3 9y ago

what are the chances of smaller, non death of all mankind leaks that would damage the data center? likely higher than elsewhere, no? so that wouldn't an be amazing risk profile

Bluestrike2 9y ago
You wouldn't build a datacenter directly on top of the supervolcano. It's in a national park, after all. Any sort of relatively minor incidents from the geothermal plant wouldn't affect datacenters located outside the park (and they could be a few hundred miles away, if need be). The degree of devastation from an eruption would be so great that the normal risks associated with "hey, build sort of near a volcano" don't really apply in the traditional sense.
knodi123 9y ago
> what are the chances of smaller, non death of all mankind leaks that would damage the data center? I think it depends on the type of volcano. There's some volcanoes that only go boom, and some that only go ooze, and some that are in the middle. And, IIRC, yellowstone is one that's big-boom or nuthin'. But it's been a while since sophomore geology class.
lostapathy 9y ago
One way or another, Warren Buffett will figure out a way to sell insurance that covers the actual data center. You'd definitely want to be setup with multi-availability zones just in case it does go.
- jopsen 9y ago
  One on each side of the volcano why not :)
PhasmaFelis 9y ago
My understanding is that getting a minor eruption from Yellowstone is kind of like trying to poke just a small hole in an inflated balloon. With the pressure down there, a leak of any size is going to expand catastrophically.
- logfromblammo 9y ago
  If you poke the hole in the correct place, the balloon does not pop. To be specific, that place is in the neck of the balloon, where the skin is thickest after being inflated. Alternately, stick a piece of tape over the balloon, and poke a hole through that. Or pinch the balloon at the antipode from the neck, poke a hollow needle through the fold, and leave the needle in place. There is always a way to bleed off pressure relatively safely. There is not always a way to do it without bankrupting your entire economy. I don't even know how those balloon solutions translate to geology, but they feel like they could be expensive--from tens of billions to trillions of dollars.

by make3 9y ago

what are the chances of smaller, non death of all mankind leaks that would damage the data center? likely higher than elsewhere, no? so that wouldn't an be amazing risk profile

Bluestrike2 9y ago

You wouldn't build a datacenter directly on top of the supervolcano. It's in a national park, after all. Any sort of relatively minor incidents from the geothermal plant wouldn't affect datacenters located outside the park (and they could be a few hundred miles away, if need be). The degree of devastation from an eruption would be so great that the normal risks associated with "hey, build sort of near a volcano" don't really apply in the traditional sense.

knodi123 9y ago

> what are the chances of smaller, non death of all mankind leaks that would damage the data center? I think it depends on the type of volcano. There's some volcanoes that only go boom, and some that only go ooze, and some that are in the middle. And, IIRC, yellowstone is one that's big-boom or nuthin'. But it's been a while since sophomore geology class.

lostapathy 9y ago

One way or another, Warren Buffett will figure out a way to sell insurance that covers the actual data center. You'd definitely want to be setup with multi-availability zones just in case it does go.

jopsen 9y ago
One on each side of the volcano why not :)

PhasmaFelis 9y ago

My understanding is that getting a minor eruption from Yellowstone is kind of like trying to poke just a small hole in an inflated balloon. With the pressure down there, a leak of any size is going to expand catastrophically.

logfromblammo 9y ago
If you poke the hole in the correct place, the balloon does not pop. To be specific, that place is in the neck of the balloon, where the skin is thickest after being inflated. Alternately, stick a piece of tape over the balloon, and poke a hole through that. Or pinch the balloon at the antipode from the neck, poke a hollow needle through the fold, and leave the needle in place. There is always a way to bleed off pressure relatively safely. There is not always a way to do it without bankrupting your entire economy. I don't even know how those balloon solutions translate to geology, but they feel like they could be expensive--from tens of billions to trillions of dollars.