anyone else concerned about the oil spill?

[saza175]

hey girls... just read this... I'm still nervous though this is a DISASTERRR!!!!!

 

 

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Avoids Mexico Yucatán Holidays Travel Guidebook

[jaccat15]

i just got back from playa del carmen for a friend's wedding and the beaches and water were totally fine - i was nervous going into the ocean but it was fine

[PaulSchrank]

Our currents come from Africa through the Carribean. They go into the Gulf and not from the Gulf.

 

[OceanWonderland]

I'm an oceanography doctoral candidate, so I have some familiarity with ocean currents. I am not a physical oceanographer, so I'm no expert in the specifics, but I have a lot of access to what physical oceanographers think might happen. I've attached a youtube video showing what a flow projection in the next 4 months could travel to (determined by modelers):

YouTube - Ocean currents likely to carry oil to Atlantic

As you can see, most of the oil is heading around Florida and up the Gulf stream, but there's also a small possibility that some oil could get caught in the Gulf of Mexico Loop current and make it's way down to some areas of Mexico...but like I said 'small!'. Also, since this has never happened before and they are just using their best estimates of localized flow, so it might not be perfect and the scientists who ran this model state as such. And it's important to remember that these oil slicks/plumes will be degrading overtime due to natural bacterial degradation in the ocean, sunlight, wave action, etc...so the potency and toxicity won't be as great as we're seeing off the southern states. Not to say there might not be some tar balls, but a low chance.

There's also this website to follow with a lot of other forecasts and real-time oil tracking:

CeNCOOS - Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill 2010.

 

The bigger concerns to me are the ocean plumes below the surface of the ocean, and the dispersants...we have NO idea what that's doing to the organisms swimming through these currents. The fact that they are blatantly ignoring orders to stop using disperants is absurd and I don't understand how they are still able to purchase any more. But BP will do anything to keep the oil below the surface so the public doesn't have a larger outcry.

 

In conclusion, I'll be getting married in Tulum in November, and I will still be swimming and snorkeling in the ocean. But I will continue monitoring the situation, and you have to remember, even if they STOP the oil from flowing tomorrow, there is still a WHOLE lot of oil out there (probably 5 times more than what the media and BP is suggesting). I really hope this devastation prompts the US to seriously fund alternative/renewable/sustainable energy resources, and decrease our dependence on oil (foreign or not). Next time you go to the grocery store, bring a canvas bag instead of using plastic, one more step in the right direction.

 

In other news, we'll know within 24 hours whether their new 'top hat' was successful in siphoning up most of the oil and gas coming out of the hole. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[mexico102]

ocean wonderland thank you for all the info!! Awesome post.

[Miss Lighting Bug]

The photos of the animals are breaking my heart. I hope BP can get their act together asap so the damage isn't that bad.

[JNagan2011]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mexico102 ocean wonderland thank you for all the info!! Awesome post.

I second that

[Future Mrs. M]

Thanks Oceanworld that was very informative. It is so sad to see how this is all transpiring.

[peterpanpixiedust]

I just want to keep this in my prayers every night. Weather or not this affects our weddings, it is affecting us all. I'm just so scared about the whole butterfly effect. What could possibly happen to the whole world later because of this? They say the whole ecosystem will be effected there, and fish travel, and birds eat fish, and we eat fish, and there are so many other ways it can come here. I feel so horrible for the poor animals. I swear if I wasn't getting married, I might consider being a volunteer and helping out (if they have them, I remember they had people wash the animals with dish soap last time). I am actually still wanting to go, I keep telling my FI I might leave him to take care of the animals. They are so innocent in all of this. Sorry I am rambling, I just feel so helpless. :-(

[Bpink62581]

Thanks for all the info OceanWonderland!! Your post was very informative and helped me to get a better idea of where the oil is heading! Very scary stuff!!! I hope they get a handle on this situation soon!