May 17th, 2010

NOAA Oil Spill and BP Oil Spill 2010 and Oil Plumes Dangerous! Oil plumes as long as 10 miles after the BP/NOAA Oil Spill are forming underneath the water’s surface.  The oil plumes are far from “out of sight out of mind” as they have the potential to really wreak havoc on the entire Gulf Coast eco system.

The oil plumes attract microbes which process the oil – a process that also uses oxygen.  The Associated press reports about the effects of such contact, noting that “the first effect will be from direct contact with the oil. As with seen in many spills, animals that come into contact with the oil, especially those that breathe underwater, as in fish, will be the first organisms at risk from this sort of contact. Additionally, the toxicity of the oil itself will bring other issues with these animals in the food chain.

The more catastrophic effect will be the impact on oxygen in the water. The oil has started to leech the water of its oxygen, and, as quoted in the AP story, has reduced oxygen in the water by 30%. Samantha Joye, a professor at the University of Georgia, stated that the dispersants may be speeding up the process by which microbes process oxygen.”

These dangerous plumes could be causing more deaths within the ecosystem of the sea.  This is why a quick cleanup of the oil in the water is of utmost importance.  In addition, some trajectory models place some of the oil in the loop current, which would take oil from the Gulf to the Florida Keys and even possibly up the East Coast.

We will keep you informed of the details as they continue to come in daily.

Source:
Associated Press