Nexus - 0201 - New Times Magazine-pages

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CONFUSING SEA western Europe, and | TONGA — “SLOTS” United States. LEVELS around Korea. IN SPACE Control of the spaces, Even more interesting called “slots”, determines It appears that sea levels | is that sea level Spurred by a savy who can provide satellite are falling in some parts behaviour shows large American entrepreneur, communications to a ‘ of the world, whilst rising | fluctuations over short the Kingdom of Tonga given part of the world. in others. distances. For example has started a battle in The number of these The figure shown in Eastern Asia, sea space that could affect spaces above the earth here presents the trends | level rises greater than the future control of is sharply limited by in sea level worldwide, 24mnvyear are occurring | satellite communications | international law to using all reliable and within 500 km of places between Asia and the prevent interference available data for the last | where sea level is falling | United States. between satellites, but 20 years. These records | by more than 6 mm/yr. Tonga has seized on | they canbe reserved at show a rising sea level in a loophole in inter- no cost by nearly any on eastern North America, ze national law to lay claim | an essentially first-come, northern Europe, and The Optimist, Dec 1988 | to the last 16 unoccupied | first-served basis. eastern Japan; anda Dr Edward Bryant, orbital parking spaces for Before Tonga’s move falling sea level in Dept of Geography, satellites that can link caught it by surprise, the western North America, | University of Wollongong | Asia, the Pacific andthe | 119-nation consortium that provides most international satellite services, known as Intelsat, thought it had a lock on the slots. Intelsat officials now contend that Tonga, with an economy largely based on fishing and foreign aid, is merely a front for financial speculation by an American, Matt Nilson. LEVELS RISING FALLING ZZfo-amenyr BB -smmiyr — EEJo-smm/yr HB 3m FALLING RISING Gffo-rmeiy EBB ~smmyr§— EEo-ammvyr BP -3mmyr Figure 1: Showing global trends in worldwide sea levels FROM Book L “IN THE BEGINNING Yu WALT CREATED SCENERY AND N CHARACTERS OW ACETATE THAT HAD (FI BEEN UNFILLEDAND VolV. THEN | i= HE CREATED MICKY AND MICKYS VOICE WAS WALTS VOICE... AND Spacey slaw, yin * pal Js 13 CONFUSING SEA