( First ( , ( ( ( ( ( data ( has ( to ( traverse ( the network ) ) ) ) ) , ) and ) ( ( even ( traveling ( at ( ( the speed ) ( of light ) ) ) ) ) ( , ( it ( takes ( ( ( a ( significant amount ) ) ( of time ) ) ( to ( cross ( ( geographic distances ) ( such ( as ( ( ( the ( US continent ) ) or ) ( the ( Atlantic ocean ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) )
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB First)) (, ,) (S (NP (NNS data)) (VP (VBZ has) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB traverse) (NP (DT the) (NN network))))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (S (ADVP (RB even)) (VP (VBG traveling) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN speed)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN light))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ takes) (S (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ significant) (NN amount)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN time)))) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB cross) (NP (NP (JJ geographic) (NNS distances)) (PP (JJ such) (IN as) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNP US) (NN continent)) (CC or) (NP (DT the) (JJ Atlantic) (NN ocean)))))))))) (. .)))
First, data has to traverse the network, and even traveling at the speed of light, it takes a significant amount of time to cross geographic distances such as the US continent or the Atlantic ocean.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (DT This) (NN process)) (ADVP (RB usually)) (VP (VBZ takes) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJS longest) (NN amount)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN time)))))) (: :) (S (NP (DT an) (NN ocean) (NN basin)) (VP (VBZ forms) (PP (IN between) (NP (CD two) (NNS continents))))) (. .)))
This process usually takes the longest amount of time: an ocean basin forms between two continents.