Experts Fear the Spill Could Spread to East Coast

[Are_grits_groceries]

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) -- Scientists fear if the oil spill isn't contained and the underwater well continues to spew unstopped, it could grow so large that it may be sucked with the currents around the Florida Keys and up the East Coast.

Duke University biologist Larry Crowder said Saturday if that happens, the scope of the disaster would not only affect the gulf states but portions of the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

The gulf's waters come through the Yucatan Strait between Mexico and Cuba, then circulate in what's called the Loop Current, before sweeping south along Florida's west coast. It then moves up the East Coast before ending in the North Atlantic.

Satellite images show the surface area of the gulf oil spill has nearly tripled in size in just a day.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/05/01/us/AP-US-Oil-Spill-Currents.html

People here at DU are already talking about this, and we aren't even experts. I don't think it's if, but when.

Oh and Hail Brittania! That's where the current ends up. I'm not sure why they say it ends.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. 25% of the bird nesting areas in the Gulf PLUS

Fla. has the ONLY US coral reefs.

What will it take to make truly clean energy a fast track national goal?

edited to add:
they want to drill on the Ca. coast where the fault lines are...how's that for stupid?

We are truly too stupid to live on this planet.

[ladjf]

2. The current doesn't end. It continues in a circuit down the African coast

then back across the Atlantic. nt

[msongs]

3. free oil for everyone thanks to BP nt