Fluid Compressibility

["Ray Stanford" <dinotracker@earthlink.net>]

Gordon Martin Human responded to my having said:

> 3,000 feet, and I would be greatly surprised to learn that prehistoric
> marine reptiles frequented the 3,000 foot depth<, in saying:

"Hmm, only 1,000m, which I believe beaked whales get near to...."

    Yes, I saw that on TV just a few days ago -- Of course, that proves it's
true! ;-) -- but, accurate or not, I don't think there was any implication
that this was a common or regular depth for the beaked whales, and I seem to
recall that this was pointed out as being extraordinary, in that other types
of whales have not been known to operate at such a depth.  Furthermore, we
must be cautious in drawing too close an analogy between the diving
capabilities of modern marine mammals and those of prehistoric reptiles.

    Also, doesn't it really seem inappropriate to use the word, "...only",
(as in the sense of comparative) concerning 1,000 meters, when that is an
exceptional and remarkable depth for whales?

    Also, please note that I said it would be greatly surprising to me to
learn that prehistoric reptiles "frequented" (as to visit often) the 3,000
foot depth, not that it was an impossible thing for some of them.

    Ray Stanford