Louisiana deep oil drilling disaster

[Ed Jewett]

Monday, May 17, 2010

Gulf Oil Being Pulled into Loop Current



The oil is now being pulled into the loop current.
As AP notes:

On Sunday, researchers said computer models show oil has already entered the loop current that could carry the toxic goo toward the Keys, the third-longest barrier reef in the world.

This is shown in the following image from the University of Wisconsin and NASA:


Figure 1. Satellite image of the oil spill taken at 12:40 EDT Monday May 17, 2010. The location of the Loop Current is superimposed. Image credit: University of Wisconsin and NASA

University of Florida's Ocean Circulation Group provides the following projections:









For background on the loop current and the oil spill, see this.