posted on Jun, 23 2010 @ 12:59 AM
reply to post by Goradd
There are a few differences between the BP spill and the ixtoc spill, including the size and volumes between the spills. Also, the large plumes of oil
that seem to be hovering beneath the surface in the BP spill, most likely due to the depth of the ruptured well.
Oil has different densities and viscosities so what might have "worked" with one type of oil, may not with an oil of a different density and/or
viscosity. Also, the oil may have been cleaned from the beaches but it surely didn't just disappear.
As far as "oil rain", AccuWeather forecaster Joe Bastardi says that it certainly is possible for oil droplets to become airborne and move inland. He
then states, "The possibility of 'oil rain' is a whole new environmental effect to worry about, especially if a storm were to move inland and rain
itself out across the United States".
Source:
thefastertimes.com...
Furthermore, it's not just the oil that we need to worry about, it's also the chemical dispersants that are being liberally applied in that region.
While the toxic chemicals and crude oil certainly won't evaporate with the water, the convection system of a hurricane is completely different and
all bets are off.
We have to remember that a hurricane doesn't work like a normal storm, where the rain is coming from evaporation, rather it lifts water up into the
spiral through convection, meaning that it would pick the toxic chemicals up with it. So, while I wouldn't worry too much about a normal storm
crossing the region, a hurricane would be completely different. Of course the oil wouldn't be picked up with the water through evaporation but it
very well could be picked up through convection. This is not even mentioning the toxic soup that could be pushed onto shore by the hurricane.
--airspoon