Posted on 06/29/2010 6:28:20 AM PDT by bestintxas
The tropical storm plowing across the Gulf of Mexico could send oil skimmers back to port and make containment booms useless, even from far away. But the rough weather also might give nature a hand in breaking down crude from the massive oil spill.
Waves churned up by Tropical Storm Alex could help break up the patches of oil scattered across the sea, and the higher-than-normal winds that radiate far from the storm could help the crude evaporate faster. Forecasters said Monday they didn't expect the center of Alex to pass near the site of BP's busted well.
"The oil isn't in one solid sheet. It's all broken up into patches anyway. It will actually work to break those patches down," said Piers Chapman, chairman of the oceanography department at Texas A&M University.
Alex could send high winds and rough seas -- perhaps as high as 12 feet -- rippling across the Gulf. Skimming vessels operating far from the storm's center may be idled because they can't operate in such swells. Floating oil-containment booms could be rendered useless by waves slopping over them and may have to be pulled out of the water.
Pulling boats and crews off the water could cost precious time, said Nancy Kinner, co-director of the Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Equipment has to be stripped down, packed and protected from the force of the storm, and then has to be reassembled and deployed again, she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What about the miles and miles of oil 2000 - 4000 feet down?
“Did you see the other areas that were previously oil free which were now contaminated?”
Not sure what the implication is here. Right now, we have “surges” of oil washing onshore that appear in fairly highly-concentrations. when a storm comes in, there will be high winds, high waves and lots and lots of rain, all of which will cause this oil to, in your words “contaminate” much larger areas. However, the oil will be dispersed in such low ppm(parts per million) that it will be effectively immaterial to concern oneself with.
“So the hurricane will reduce the amount of oil that has been spilled?”
once again, the oil exists in bands that are concentrated. if mixed up with multitudes of water, this will no longer be the case. the ppm will be extremely small. No one ever said oil disappears, it is just dispersed until it effectively is immaterial to worry about.
Did you know that there are acceptable levels of contaminants allowed in the water you drink?http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html
‘However, the oil will be dispersed in such low ppm(parts per million) that it will be effectively immaterial to concern oneself with.”
really? I’m sure you have some science to base that on.
“Did you know that there are acceptable levels of contaminants allowed in the water you drink?”
NO Really?
STUPIDIST idea EVER that a hurricane will help this situation.
Well, as someone who has surfed the Gulf Coast for 40 years I say you are wrong about washing every thing clean. Did you see Surfside Beach after hurricane Ike? It tore that place apart. And even if the hit is not direct, this hurricane Alex is going to deliver the dirty side of the storm to Texas. That means strong ENE winds blowing straight from the oil well spill to the Texas Coast. And just because oil is under layers of sand and you can't see it doesn't mean it's "clean!"
As for Louisiana the higher tides will just push the oil further up into the marshes along the delta killing even more wildlife and ruining fisheries.
“I’m sure you have some science to base that on.”
Being an engineer, more science than appears in the referenced article.
And the practical experience to have lived outside Galveston during Carla in 1961 and seen what can really happen during a hurricane. Ike was nothing compared to that one.
And yet that is EXACTLY what they do.
In 34 years as a hurricane specialist (worked direct hits from Camille, Agnes, Eloise, Elena, Kate, Erin and Opal) I have watched it happen again and again.
We're not talking theory here...I spent too much time on the front lines for that.
When you watch those seas pounding everything in their path, the effect is the same as a huge mixer.
All low pressure systems are natures mixers to some extent and hurricanes are especially so...and as I said, they can and do emulsify and many cases the produce a colloidal suspension with materials that don't dissolve in sea water (sand was my example and it's a heck of a lot harder to get it into a suspension than oil.)
I've spent time with former NHC directors Neil Frank and Bob Sheets observing this very thing after hurricane passage back in the 70's, 80's, and 90's.
Look into a mixing bowl or blender while it is running and in the center you will see a vortex. A hurricane IS a vortex of massive proportion and works in the same way.
an engineer for the oil industry right?
stop the leak and then I’ll listen.
‘In 34 years as a hurricane specialist (worked direct hits from Camille, Agnes, Eloise, Elena, Kate, Erin and Opal) I have watched it happen again and again.”
So you’re one of those that can’t tell us where they are going or how bad they are going to be. Or one of those that tells us there’s gonna be 23 storms and then we have 0.
And yet my record is 100% on the storm tracks that directly affected my area..and that can be verified. If you know anyone who lived in Panama City, FL. pre-2002, ask them.
Predicting how many storms will occur is work for a fortune-teller or crystal ball gazer and is totally unrelated to the real work of dealing with hurricanes.
“Predicting how many storms will occur is work for a fortune-teller or crystal ball gazer and is totally unrelated to the real work of dealing with hurricanes.”
Just as predicting the that the oil will be emulsified by a storm is completely unrelated to “the real work of dealing with hurricanes”.
It is far far more likely that vast amounts of the oil would be pushed onshore and into peoples homes and wetlands.
Believe me, wish I could.
In meantime, hope you are not tone-deaf to data.
I’d ignore driftdriver, capt norm.
He’s already admitted he will not listen.
And your expertise in this area based on what?
Is this a "someone said", "I read it somewhere", "the news media said so" or did you come up with it on your own?
Either way you're talking waaayyy over your head dude.
I base that on the fact that you don't seem to pick up on any real data but instead depend on preconceived notions that sound good to you...kinda' like the news media does.
I'm wasting my time...I'd do better trying to explain this to my parakeet...at least he is capable of listening.
Thanks to both of you for your understandable replies. What you say makes sense to me.
yep just as I thought. you are talking out your wazzu
Anyone who thinks a hurricane improves the gulf spill situation should be locked up in an insane asylum.
“He’s already admitted he will not listen.’
As opposed to the idea that mixing something will reduce the amount of contamination. there ya go, thats a winner ding ding ding
Thank you for the kind words.
Er... um.. Oil sticks to what ever it touches. There is going to be oil all over everything. This strikes me as making a bigger mess. It doesn’t just disappear. It will contaminate thousands of square miles. Hopefully only lightly, but it will still make a big mess in some areas.
This thread gets infested with his types, like roaches coming out for snacking.
Your tagline explains much.
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