4 ms·
South pole mean winter low is -76F but -128F has been recorded. While the water isn't going to get that temperature, subs need to surface periodically. I bet th
by cmurf 5y ago
South pole mean winter low is -76F but -128F has been recorded. While the water isn't going to get that temperature, subs need to surface periodically. I bet they've looked at the probability of needing the ability to operate in extreme cold, and -100F is the compromise.
- tyingq 5y agoI had assumed the tests were related to pressure and depth, where the temp isn't much off of 0C. Not an area of expertise for me though.
- LeifCarrotson 5y agoA submarine cannot surface at the south pole.
- simcop2387 5y agoYet. Give it time. Though, i believe they just meant the waters surrounding Antarctica.
- VistaBrokeMyPC 5y agoYet? There's land underneath the ice at the south pole.
- sfifs 5y agoI believe yet refers to https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-think-earth-s-next-supercontinent-might-look-like-one-of-these https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-think-earth-s-next-s...
- yodon 5y agoI used to design and build scientific equipment for the South Pole. We had to do all our own materials testing because manufacturers would only specify their products to the bottom of the MILSPEC temperature range and the South Pole goes below that. I remember one spool of cabling in particular - it was beautiful stuff, highly flexible, high current carrying, just what we needed. It stayed awesome right to the bottom of the milspec temperature range, at which point the exterior sheathing went through some kind of phase transition and froze solid, followed by the interior insulation having a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the exterior sheathing resulting in the whole thing shattering itself into pieces just a few degrees below military operating temperatures.
- 41b696ef1113 5y agoThat is a beautiful story of true engineering.