created from analysis of satellite images.
Credit: Department of Energy
Copyright: Department of Energy/public domain
Posted on 01/10/2011 9:09:44 PM PST by brityank
Federal study confirms microbes have eaten most of the Gulf Oil Spill
A study by researchers from Texas A&M and University of California in Santa Barbara have found that all of the methane gas released from the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico have been consumed by tiny microbes. Methane gas amounts 100,000 times higher than normal at the time of their release have completely disappeared after only 120 days. Some scientists had raised concerns that dissolved methane and other oil residue would continue to plague the Gulf for years or even decades. This is turning out not to be the case.
Confirming that the methane gas has been consumed was a corresponding drop in dissolved oxygen content in the water consistent with the oxygen required to convert the methane into water and carbon dioxide by the microbes. High levels of methane eating bacteria were also found in the water where the methane gas had previously been measured.
Microbes are also cleaning up the spilled oil. In a report last month, federal officials said there was no longer any significant oil from the spill left offshore. What should be clear is that natural processes can clean up oil spills over time.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Will the microbes starve now that all that oil is gone OR, what will they eat next??? “The microbe that ate the Gulf Coast” coming to a theater near you.
A tremendous amount of air born fecal particulates blended with methane.
I would have to suspect that the EPA and feedlot methane just got the green light...
Oil seeps out of the floor of the Gulf at quite a rate naturally. Millions of gallons a year. These microbes were feasting on the oil long before humans arrived on the planet.
There were articles posted about the huge natural oil seeps and the bacteria before the BP spill happened.
The BP spill was just a bigger feast for them.
Right, just like large corporations and the government promoting the "good news" of global warning and its dire consequences, covered up, of course, by their media partner.
Well, I believe there was a water quality scientific group from Wood's Hole running checks all around the well area looking for subsurface stranded plumes of oil, but finding very little. I don't recall seeing much on that finding.
The government already got the money as usual.How many court cases do I see where the government sued on behalf of the people and kept the $$$?
I didn’t know DemocRats liked the taste of oil.
Biological activity and the speed of chemical reactions increase at higher temperatures. The Gulf of Mexico is much warmer than Prince William Sound.
So... if I move to Alaska I would eat less and weigh less?
I am sure if this happened under Bush 4 months later all the academics would line up and agree that microbes ate all the oil and there is no cause for worry.
I am sure if this happened under Bush 4 months later all the academics would line up and agree that microbes ate all the oil and there is no cause for worry.
I am sure if this happened under Bush 4 months later all the academics would line up and agree that microbes ate all the oil and there is no cause for worry.
Rush Limbaugh: Right again, six months in advance.
Roflol, what is the difference in the temperature for the two location at the same depth. Say two miles down. I know you are thinking surface temp.
The Gulf experiences periodic massive seeps. Bumper harvests of shrimp and other marine life follow such seeps.
When there's a lot of oil for the microbes to process, you have more microbes. The surplus affects the food chain.
What did Rush say?
I am surprised the recovery is this far along, but it does prove that nature’s mitigation far outstrips whatever paltry actions we humans can bring to bear. Just like globull warming!
Crude oil is all natural and biodegradable.
Map of active oil seeps in Gulf of Mexico
created from analysis of satellite images.
Credit: Department of Energy
Copyright: Department of Energy/public domain
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