Ocean currents likely to carry oil to Atlantic

[onestepforward]

Run time: 00:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE-1G_476nA   Posted on YouTube: June 03, 2010 By YouTube Member: ncarucar Views on YouTube: 349   Posted on DU: June 03, 2010 By DU Member: onestepforward Views on DU: 1142

 
http://blogs.chron.com/newswatchenergy/archives/2010/06/gulf_oil_reachi.html

A computer model that shows how oil leaking in the Gulf of Mexico could spread to the East Coast and beyond is frightening people on the Internet.

A video from the National Center for Atmospheric Research showing a simulation of oil entering the Gulf's Loop Current has been spreading rapidly via Twitter. The oil is shown going around the tip of Florida and as far north as Cape Hatteras, N.C.

Researchers say oil could threaten beaches on the East Coast by early July.

"Martin Visbeck, a research team member with the University of Kiel in Germany, says it is unlikely any oil reaching Europe would be thick enough to be harmful," the AP reported.

The video notes that this is not a forecast, but rather a simulation.

[closeupready]

1. What the map here doesn't show well is just how much water is involved.

Because the map gives a bird's eye view of Earth, not one that is depth-sensitive.

Don't get me wrong, I think this disaster is unequivocally horrible, but if it drifts to the Atlantic, it will be diluted.

[freebrew]

3. Explain diluted?

Oil doesn't mix with water so it doesn't dilute it gets spread thin(ner). If I remeber my chem class correctly it doesn't take much oil to spread over the entire ocean as it will spread to 1 molecule thickness under normal conditions.

Spread out, yes. Diluted, no.

[Lars77]

4. The gulf stream could carry it all the way up to Norway

Thanks, America! ;)

[izquierdista]

10. Chemistry refresher

The one molecule thickness is an idealization. It really only works in calm, unstirred water, which the North Atlantic most certainly is not. More likely, the oil will form micelles, little droplets with hydrophobic insides and hydrophilic outsides. Agitating the micelles may submerge them for brief periods of time, even though their equilibrium state is to float on the surface.

As the micelles float on the surface of the water, they are subject to oxidation from the atmosphere and the sun's energy can break bonds in the oil molecules. As it oxidizes, the products formed will be more soluble in water and the micelle will lose mass. Also, there are bacteria which will look at the micelle as lunch and begin to metabolize it.

See this article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-microbes-clean-up-oil-spills

[thereismore]

2. Funny. Some people on the "internets" find this to be news? One look at a map of Gulf stream

will tell you as much. Hardly any simulation necessary.

[AllenVanAllen]

5. The "leak" could possibly gush until December.

The entire East and Gulf coast will get a taste of the destruction if it flows until then.

[greiner3]

6. I'm worried about how the oil may affect;

The Conveyor Belt. The warm water from the Gulf of Mexico streams north. This gives northern Europe it's uncharacteristically warm climate. When the water cools, in the north Atlantic, the water dives. From there, it follows the Mid-Atlantic fault line south and then east. When the water finally warms up, in the Indian Ocean, it rises and makes it's way back all the way to the Caribbean and then north again to warm Europe. Water temp and salinity both come into play.

It is thought that this flow was stopped by natural forces several times in the past. If it is again, England will become a frozen wasteland (some say that this is not necessarily a bad thing). This is also one of the premises in thr movie, "The Day After Tomorrow."

[Captain Boomerang]

7. It reminds me of, "I dream of Jeannie."

I am not sure why.

[The Wizard]

8. The greay irony would be

BP oil winding up on Britain's beaches.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. if anything demonstrates our interconnectivity, this one certainly does

imagine in addition to this all of the chemicals being poured out of China's industrial complex into the oceans - those are no doubt adding to the broth we call our earth's lifeblood.

[onestepforward]

12. Yes, it does demonstrate our interconnectivity.

What happens "over there" can definitely effect what happens "over here." We are slowly killing our only home.

[zenprole]

11. And the oceans, too...

"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." - Ambrose Bierce

[Jamastiene]

13. DAMMIT!!!

FUCK YOU, BP!!!

[Poll_Blind]

14. Kick. n/t

PB