MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[shearsense]

As others have said, there's likely a large lag between when images are captured and when they're analysed. With such a large search area there would likely be a massive amount of images to be examined.

I do wonder what technology is available to intelligence agencies these days, I don't think it's extraordinary to imagine there's software available which can automatically analyse satellite images and flag areas of interest?

Yep - off-the-shelf environmental-monitering GIS software does it. You just need very powerful hardware for such large amounts of image data, which I am sure they have. Probably far better than us mere mortals are allowed to play with...

 

[Robbi]

i think that at this point in time, given the shenanigans that have gone on, now is no the time to prematurely release information.

get it right, once and once only

the whole world is looking at australia right now, with respect because they realise we know how to do SAR.

we have already made one huge gaff that could have been avoided.

i just hope politics doens't get in the way and more regretful statements to the worlds medai are made.

What gaffe?

 

[Robbi]

Yes, I'm a geoscientist. I lecture part time at one of the local universities in exploratory data analysis and geostatistics and do consulting work in mineral exploration.

I figure gravity might work, as all it's really doing is looking for density contrasts. It'd show up if you could get a high enough resolution out there, but I really don't think it's practical. I know they use sea floor gravity for finding hydrothermal vents for potential massive sulphide mineralization. I know they also use mag, but I suspect that it would be just as impractical to get high res images that far offshore. You can also do deep EM, but due to the size of the search area and how far offshore it is, again, I think it's impractical. If they could narrow down the search area to maybe 10km x 10km? Possibly.

Otherwise just a really high resolution bathymetry map over the area should pick it up without the need for geophysics. Should check if there's any IODP cruises heading out there.

I think we also have to give the black box a chance. There's still theoretically 20 days of life left in it and the range can be several hundred kilometres under ideal circumstances. Hopefully RAN or USN have a submarine in the area.

 

[drron]

Malaysian press conference on-
Live TV | Astro Awani

 

[shearsense]

In terms of the geophysics, you can generate gravity maps from satellite data, so it's possible. Just unlikely to give you the resolution that you'd need to find a plane. My satellite gravity data is on ~2km spacing. It's fantastic, but it's not going to find a plane. To get the geophysics of a high enough resolution to find a plane, you'd have to have a very small search area (probably not much more than 100km x 100km), otherwise it becomes impractical, both physically and financially, because you'd have to send planes or boats out to collect it.

A marine microgravity survey might be hard pushed to find something of such relatively small mass under a few thousand metres of water, even after days of corrective processing work. But as some of these exploration technologies (gravity gradiometry) were originally developed for shallow submarine-hunting the technology certainly exists, is available commercially and would be worth a try if somebody had the money and time to do it. As stated, a high resolution bathymetry survey would be cheaper and more effective than most geophysical techniques - if suitable equipment was available. But leaving aside the shop talk for a moment, the tragedy is that unfortunately none of these directly help the passengers.................

 

[DrA]

I think we also have to give the black box a chance. There's still theoretically 20 days of life left in it and the range can be several hundred kilometres under ideal circumstances. Hopefully RAN or USN have a submarine in the area.

Oh, unquestionably. Sending out a survey vessel for geophysical or bathymetric mapping is expensive and time consuming. From experience, I know that government hydrographic survey boats get booked about 12-18 months in advance for mapping projects. So I doubt anything would happen any sooner than that in regards to a survey unless the military has the resources. Which they probably do, but it's unlikely they'd send them out in the next few weeks. Assuming MH370 sits on the ocean floor (and didn't land in the 'Stans somewhere), it's at the point now that it's a recovery mission, not a rescue mission, so time is less of the essence I guess.

 

[amaroo]

<snip>

If it is confirmed that the plane is off the WA coast, I can only hope that the Group 5 mentioned in a few posts earlier, take the helm, and ensure that the plane is found, recovered and investigated in a manner that ensures no cover-ups, secrets or general "quick fix solutions" are applied - the 239 passengers, their families and friends deserve the truth to be told regardless of what is uncovered.

I agree with the sentiment however, suggesting that the Group of 5 isn't capable of a coverup, secrets or general mischief is a touch disingenuous.

 

[legroom]

I was reading up on QF32 when I came across this line

".... S/O Mark Johnson established voice communications with Qantas engineers in Sydney through a mobile phone after failure of the aircraft’s satellite voice link...."

So, in the context of mobile phone and ground communication, that is quite possible.

Back on MH370, it seems to indicate no pax was able to use the phone at any stage (? Altitude, ? Weak signal, ? Incapacitated, ? Under duress etc...).

But how high was QF32 at the time of the phone call ? I am not sure on that point.

 

[jb747]

I was reading up on QF32 when I came across this line

".... S/O Mark Johnson established voice communications with Qantas engineers in Sydney through a mobile phone after failure of the aircraft’s satellite voice link...."

So, in the context of mobile phone and ground communication, that is quite possible.

Back on MH370, it seems to indicate no pax was able to use the phone at any stage (? Altitude, ? Weak signal, ? Incapacitated, ? Under duress etc...).

But how high was QF32 at the time of the phone call ? I am not sure on that point.

Digital mobile phones almost certainly won't work at altitude, and if they do lock on to a tower, it won't be for long. I think you'll find the reference to QF32 is after they were on the ground, and trying to shut down the #1 engine.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Malaysian press conference on-
Live TV | Astro Awani

Thanks for this. The officials just announced the satellite images are from this morning? There seems to be some confusion....

 

[Jack_OC]

I think you'll find the reference to QF32 is after they were on the ground, and trying to shut down the #1 engine.

Indeed it was, I just watched a repeat of the doco on Channel 7!

 

[markis10]

The Norwegian cargo ship has arrived on site in the search area, maybe two hours of daylight left.

 

[DrA]

Thanks for this. The officials just announced the satellite images are from this morning? There seems to be some confusion....

According to that press conference at lunchtime, AMSA was provided with the satellite images this morning. DIGO maybe got them 4 days ago to process and analyse, but didn't hand off the results to AMSA until today.

 

[Archphoto]

I agree with the sentiment however, suggesting that the Group of 5 isn't capable of a coverup, secrets or general mischief is a touch disingenuous.

You are correct, anyone can affect a cover-up etc, but in this case I'm hoping they'd want to find it to put an end to all the speculation that's floating around.

After that, it's anyone's guess what can or would be held back.

It was more a musing of comparison regarding the in-actions and lack of cohesion of many, versus the Group currently attempting to locate debris (and hopefully the plane itself), to bring some closure to all affected by this.

All I know is, if it was affecting me I'd rather it be investigated by these guys over those currently "running" the show, only because of how poorly it has been handled from the beginning. YMMV.

 

[markis10]

The P8 is off station and returning to Perth with nothing found so far, Kiwi P3 on task.

 

[drron]

If indeed this does turn out to be MH370 I feel with Boeing being involved there will be participation of US assets in the search for the black box.

 

[drron]

The P8 is off station and returning to Perth with nothing found so far, Kiwi P3 on task.

The tweet from the US ABC guy onboard says they found a freighter and 2 pods of dolphins-the radar intercepts they had reported initially.

 

[amaroo]

The P8 is off station and returning to Perth with nothing found so far, Kiwi P3 on task.

Pity the US reporter on this bird posted incorrect information on the radar findings earlier today As someone else posted - it was suppose to be a communication blackout......wonder if he will get a second gig?

 

[markis10]

Pity the US reporter on this bird posted incorrect information on the radar findings earlier today As someone else posted - it was suppose to be a communication blackout......wonder if he will get a second gig?

The things you do to get a scoop! Funny how the US and others are happy to take journos along to give others an idea of the job, yet no go area for the Aussie press, maybe they are afraid the story will feature a JQ 717 pic

 

[Boris spatsky]

Ch 7 reporter went on one of our P3s today. Coverage was on the late news.