A new animation provides a frightening glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in the US have created a model, based on ocean currents in the area, which shows the likely path of the oil over a three-month period.
The animation provides a graphic projection of the widespread dispersal of oil. The projections are based on the likely flow of oil in relation to normal ocean currents and weather patterns, from the time of the spill to 20 June. A colour code, from red (most concentrated) to beige (most diluted) provides a vivid demonstration of the effect of the spill as it moves through the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean.
“I’ve had a lot of people ask me, ‘Will the oil reach Florida?’” NCAR scientist Synte Peacock said in a statement. “Actually, our best knowledge says the scope of this environmental disaster is likely to reach far beyond Florida, with impacts that have yet to be understood.”
The animation can be found at National Centre for Atmospheric Research website.
