[Proj] Slightly off-topic: The phantom island that is real

[J. Luis]

We discussed that on the GMT list too and no, the island does NOT exist 
in the SRTM+ or GTOPO30 series

See for example
https://listserv.hawaii.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1211&L=GMT-HELP&D=0&T=0&P=107015

Joaquim

> The crew of a research ship claims to have undiscovered a large island 
> in the South Pacific's Coral Sea near New Caledonia, called Sandy 
> Island. The news feeds have picked up on this and it's making its way 
> around the geeksphere with great rapidity. Here is an example article:
>      
> http://phys.org/news/2012-11-aussie-scientists-un-discover-pacific-island.html
>
> However, it is quite clear from satellite imagery and multiple data 
> sources that the "island" in fact exists, though possibly it is a 
> barely submerged sandbar. Yet the crew claims depths there are around 
> 1,400 meters.
>
> Obviously the ship was not where they say it was. The question is, how 
> did the crew of this research vessel convince themselves they were 
> sailing in the same area? I don't think a datum mismatch can account 
> for this, given the size of the sandbar.
>
> I have started a thread here:
>      http://mapthematics.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=469
>
> Enjoy!
> --- daan Strebe
>
>
>
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