NASA has posted a nice video of following the progression of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. After a recent brief bout with Tropical Storm Bonnie, reports this week by BP, the U.S. Government and independent scientists indicate fractured and more isolated robbons of surface oil in the Gulf. This can be partially attributed to Tropical Storm Bonnie helping to stir things up over the site. In addition, our hot summer heat has helped to evaporate some of the oil, while likely the dispersent was also a likely player in reducing visible surface oil.
Experts continue to indicate there is plenty of oil still in the Gulf but natural processes are likely getting a foothold on weathering and naturally dispersing the oil now that the leak has been capped. This also argues that the response to the spill has likely made some progress too.
The Gulf of Mexico contains 660 quadrillion gallons of water…thats 660,000,000,000,000,000 gallons! By comparison given the highest estimates of 200 million gallons of oil spilled in the Gulf would account for less than 1 billionth of the entire volume of the Gulf. These numbers make it seem better for the Gulf, but the question however is how will a few parts per billion (or much, much more in concentrated areas) affect the basic bio-processes/ecosytems and how that will manifest further up in the food chain? Time will tell.