Now that the oil flow has finally stopped, for now, the attention has shifted to the effects all that oil will have on wildlife and the ecosystem. Chris Wilson for Slate reports on where all of that BP oil could end up during the next 130 days, based on modeling data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. These models are based on how water flows in different areas of the Gulf.
Three scenarios are presented. All end up with oil leaving the Gulf.
Of course, these are all approximations, and the models can’t possibly account for all the factors that play into oil drift (e.g. biological degradation of the oil), but it’s an educated guess, so take it at that. Wherever all the oil ends up, one thing is for sure. There’s still a lot of cleanup left to do.
I heart NCAR.