Monday, May 17, 2010

Gulf Oil Being Pulled into Loop Current


The oil is now being pulled into the loop current.

As AP notes:

On Sunday, researchers said computer models show oil has already entered the loop current that could carry the toxic goo toward the Keys, the third-longest barrier reef in the world.

This is shown in the following image from the University of Wisconsin and NASA:


Figure 1. Satellite image of the oil spill taken at 12:40 EDT Monday May 17, 2010. The location of the Loop Current is superimposed. Image credit: University of Wisconsin and NASA

University of Florida's Ocean Circulation Group provides the following projections:





For background on the loop current and the oil spill, see this.

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3 comments:

  1. RJClawsonMay 17, 2010 at 11:38 AM

    Aside from predictive models, is there any empirical evidence that the oil has entered the loop current?

    Also, has oil from previous leaks or blowouts entered the loop current, and what has been its effect?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tom BaxterMay 17, 2010 at 5:05 PM

    If the oil hasn't entered the Loop yet, it will in a matter of days.
    Nothing this big has ever been dumped into the Loop before.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 18, 2010 at 7:38 AM

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    ReplyDelete

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