Anyone here know how salt water is effecting the giant oil plumes?

[Rex]

How does a 'snake' shape oil plume move that is 1 by 10 miles wide/long in deep, cold ocean water? If it doesn't mix with water, would that make its dispersion harder or does salt have an effect? We've all read and seen how oil hates water, how about something this massive? Does it silently glide along with the current? Can you pick it up on sonar? Am I being stupid for worrying about military subs?

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. I don't think you need to worry about subs - after all, just whose subs

would concern you? But it would be interesting to know (if anyone can answer that) if an underwater plume like this could disguise the sonar reflection of a sub.

[Rex]

4. Whose subs? Ours of course.

They fly blind in those things and most of the crew have no idea where they are. Just me worrying a little too much. I'm sure a submariner will come along and explain it to me.

[XemaSab]

2. Affecting

n/t

[Rex]

3. Thanks I always get those backwards.

[ThomWV]

5. You don't pick it up on SONAR, its floating on the surface, you just look down

Oil floats. Even thick oil floats. Then it turns to tar; after everything that can evaporate out of it at the surface has evaporated, then it turns to tar and sinks. It will be coming off of kid's feet at beeches along every inch of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts (and every coast line in the Caribbean) for the next 100 years.

[Rex]

6. I'm not talking about surface oil, they report that huge amounts of

oil are deep and NOT floating or going towards the surface, maybe caught in the underwater current...dunno just got me to wondering. Ugh tar...great we can rename the Gulf Coast, The Great Tarpit. :(

[BeFree]

7. wrong

this oil is being allowed to escape at 5,000 feet deep under great pressure.
Because of that great pressure, when it comes out of the pipe the water and oil begin to mix, or, emulsify.

Also, BP is putting a dispersant -- a soap -- directly into the plume dispersing the oil even more and causing more emulsification.

The emulsion does NOT float. It is suspended in the water column (by temperature grades?), from surface to the bottom. Most of the oil is under the surface.

[Rex]

8. Is it like a syrup at that stage?

Thanks, that helped me understand the visual I'm trying to see in my brain.

[BeFree]

9. Yeah

Kinda like syrup. Gooey and sticky.
I wonder how long dolphins can last swimming in that stuff?

[Rex]

10. Watched ABC news, they say there are plumes 10 miles long

by 4 miles wide by 300 feet thick...what the hell do we do with something like THAT?

[BeFree]

11. Good question

I can think of no good answer.

What it will do is migrate to the Atlantic wherein it shall better be able to be diluted and not effect so much life as there is in the relative bathtub sized Gulf.

IMO, the sooner the better.