Aug 18 2010
Two weeks ago we were being told the majority of the Oil Spilled was “mostly” gone …
How did five million barrels of oil simply disappear?
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs points to a pie chart on the BP oil spill during the Daily White House Press Briefing, Washington, DC.
AFP/ Getty Images
Now, University of South Florida, Marine Scientists are reporting Science has a different tale, to tell …
Aug 06 2010
The oil has gone? Tell that to Gulf coast residents
By Rupert Cornwell, independent.co.uk — 6 August 2010
And though only a quarter of the 4.9m barrels reckoned to have leaked is still unaccounted, that represents the equivalent of five Exxon Valdez, the tanker whose spill caused an environmental catastrophe in Alaska in 1989.
“There are still boats out there every day working, finding turtles with oil on them and seeing grass lines with oil in it,” charter boat captain Randy Boggs, of Orange Beach in Alabama, told the Associated Press. “All the oil isn’t accounted for. There are millions of pounds of tar balls and oil on the bottom.”
Turns out, This — TIMES 5 —
IS mostly STILL There! … lurking somewhere, just below the surface …
Aug 01 2010
OH NOES!
Just when you thought the worse was over …
BP to scale back some oil response units, new leader pledges to stay for long haul
by Doug Mouton / Northshore Bureau Chief
wwltv.com — July 30, 2010
How much oil is in the Gulf now is up for debate. Several Louisiana leaders, including St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis have argued that million of gallons of oil are underwater, waiting to surface.
“We haven’t found that,” [Bob] Dudley [new BP CEO] said.
Dudley said six ships and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to locate underwater oil.
“It’s a big hunt going on right now,” Dudley said. “It’s going to keep going on.”
Hey BOB! — MAYBE you haven’t “found it” because of 1.8 Million Gallons of Toxic Dispersants you managed to spray — Kept much of it Underwater, eh?
They’ll find ALL that missing Oil — just give them some more time … that’s all they ask …
Jun 09 2010
Photographer Rich Matthews takes a closer look at oil
Journalist dives into Gulf, can only see oil
It takes 30 minutes to clean off after diving into ocean 40 miles from shore
By RICH MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer June 9, 2010
Eeewwwh!! WHAT was he thinking!
Hope you have a De-tox tank, handy, Rich Matthews — you’re going to need it!
Photo Credit: June 7, 2010 photo, APTN photographer Rich Matthews takes a closer look at oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, in the Gulf of Mexico south of Venice, La.. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
APTN photographer Rich Matthews takes a closer look at oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, in the Gulf of Mexico south of Venice, La.. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
MSNBC – Updated: 5:54 a.m. ET June 9, 2010
but wait this intrepid Reporter goes deeper …
Jun 06 2010
Lab tests confirm underwater layers of oil
Cain Burdeau, AP — June 4, 2010
Laboratory tests confirmed that oil from a spewing Gulf of Mexico well has accumulated in at least two extensive plumes deep under the surface, scientists with the University of South Florida said Friday.
USF researchers at a meeting in Baton Rouge said lab tests showed their initial findings, based on field instruments, were correct. The extensive layers of oil are sitting far beneath the surface miles from the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The university is collecting data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The lab tests are the most conclusive evidence yet in a vigorous scientific debate about where much of the oil from the growing spill in the Gulf of Mexico has ended up.
BP spokesman Mark Proelger said the company was awaiting further analysis of what is in the plumes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“It’s too early to say whether any data indicates the plumes contain oil or not,” Proelger said.
Well then WAKE UP and smell the petro, Mark!
May 26 2010
Gulf oil plume darker; not good news, expert says
By SETH BORENSTEIN — May 25, 2010
The color of the oil gushing from the main pipe has changed in color from medium gray to black. Two scientists noticed the change, which oil company BP downplayed as a natural fluctuation that is not likely permanent.
But engineering professor Bob Bea at the University of California at Berkeley says the color change may indicate the BP leak has hit a reservoir of more oil and less gas. Gas is less polluting because it evaporates.
Bea has spent more than 55 years working and studying oil rigs.
Sounds serious.
Too bad we can’t get any submarines down there to start tracking all that Oil, which scientists previously reported, looked to be spreading far and wide, at the mid-levels of the Gulf waters.
Luckily, the Scientist behind the first effort to track the underwater oil plumes, is mounting a second effort, with some new sciencey gadgets …
May 22 2010
Science is one of those subjects I’m passionate about. Without Science, we’d still be casting spells, and coaxing The Fates.
If we’re not careful, we may be headed back to those “bad old days”.
Scientists Fault Lack of Studies Over Gulf Oil Spill
Justin Gillis, NYTimes – 05/19/2010
“It seems baffling that we don’t know how much oil is being spilled,” Sylvia Earle, a famed oceanographer, said Wednesday on Capitol Hill. “It seems baffling that we don’t know where the oil is in the water column.”
The administration acknowledges that its scientific resources are stretched by the disaster, but contends that it is moving to get better information, including a more complete picture of the underwater plumes.
“We’re in the early stages of doing that, and we do not have a comprehensive understanding as of yet of where that oil is,” Jane Lubchenco, the NOAA administrator, told Congress on Wednesday. “But we are devoting all possible resources to understanding where the oil is and what its impact might be.”
Maybe NOAA was too busy, texting BP?
Dec 19 2008
We wait and watch, with baited breath President Obama’s decisions about who will serve in senior positions in the Administration.
When it comes to the critical issues of climate change and the creation of a clean energy future, some appointments have created great elation, fostering hope for Change toward something better.
Euphoria has, more than once, shifted to confusion with appointees whose devotion to and experience for creating a sensible path forward remain (generously speaking) open to question.
That confusion (dismay even) can shift quickly, as it did today.
Yesterday, we had news of three absolutely stunningly impressive appointments when it comes to the arenas of science, global warming, and energy.
Today is a day for great elation and Hope. Let us hope that tomorrow provides reason for more elation.