|
Letters to the Editor
|
May 2000 |
 |
|
|
Sound Waves Editor:
Reply to Feet vs. Meters Issue
I admit to being a guy who still thinks in feet and inches and then roughly multiplies by 3
something in order to discuss results with the metric-minded. Steve Eittreim commented that the
oil industry is "mired" in the use of feet and is somehow holding us back from adopting the metric
system. Being an ex-oil guy, I point out that oil companies have little choice. Drill pipe in the
U.S. is marketed in feet. Here in St. Pete we do our coring with an NX wireline coring device that
uses '5-ft' lengths of drill pipe and casing. The next larger length is '10 ft.' Because of these
constraints, it is easier for us to do our field notes (and thinking) in feet and inches and then
convert to meters for publication. I really don't know when NX drill pipe will be available in
1.524- or 3.048-m lengths and am not looking forward to dealing with such numbers. It would be
nice, however, if they came in even 2- or 3-m lengths but don't hold your breath. However, if
you think it is the oil companies holding us back, here is a shocker. The last time I visited MIT,
I found that the most esteemed engineers in the land work in feet and inches(!) as do machinists.
Students learn engineering in feet, inches, and thousands of an inch. No wonder the Mars probe
crashed! So if you want to single out a group that is retarding our migration toward the metric
system, blame the engineers. I wanted to blame lawyers but didn't know how. Lawyers are flexible
and will give the client any number needed.
Gene Shinn |
|
 |
May 2000
in this issue:
cover story:
NY Bight Cruise
Honduras Coral Reefs
Letter to the Editor
Nat'l Ocean Sciences Bowl Winner
Earth Day, Tampa Bay
Gulf of Mexico
Great Lakes Mapping
Interagency Pollution Work
Edgar Receives RSAS Award
Shinn, Reich, & Hickey Receive SEPM Award
Work With High School Students
New Post-Doc
New ECO Interns at WHFC
Talk by Richie Williams
Ellen Mecray Completes Boston Marathon
Visitors
May Publications List
|
U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
previous story