Even if some debris is found, it might still take years to locate the actual aircraft wreck deep underwater, and recover the black box(s) and get any real answers (like in the Air France crash).
They still have about 2 weeks before the pinger runs out of battery. So there is a decent chance they could find it within 2 weeks, but if the wreck isn't found by then, it could definitely take years to find it, if ever.
Compare to 16- to 24- bit resolution in your typical audio processing chain.
In the case of Air France 447, it did take 2 years to recover the black box. I'm guessing this one will be quicker because of the potential terrorism angle.
It would mean no survivors. So sad.
Unless the debris includes a liferaft.
But I'm not keeping my hopes up.
I really hate to be negative about this but isn't this highly unlikely considering the rafts on the planes have emergency locator radio beacons?
Other things on the plane also have similar beacons (the flight recorder, most notably) but have yet to be found, so it's not completely out of the question that they be deployed but not located.
Anytime an airplane disappears the probability to find anybody alive is small. The day it happened I was already feeling sad about it. I just can't imagine how the families must feel every time news are announced.
Where do you think survivors could possibly be? A mysterious tropical island, lost in time and space?
How about a widely held view so far: Possibly held captive by hijackers or terrorists? Not desirable, but better than certain death indicated by debris (if confirmed).