Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Climate Change and Environmental Issues BP Oil Spill

Hydrocarbons and water vapor evaporate off the ocean surface as individual molecules. Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic: They don't mix much with water. So I doubt there would be much hydrocarbon contents in rain drops. You could get hydrocarbons condensing out of the air in the form of drops, but the concentration would have to be so high that a little oil on the street would be the least of your problems. People would be getting high and quickly dropping dead from all the oil in their lungs.

The "brown bubbly stuff" like in the GOM the narrator describes tends to convince me, because usually you don't see it in oil leaks following rain, but just the oil sheen and "rainbow" effect. The narrator also describes the oil as "foamy." If this "brown bubbly stuff" appeared in a mud puddle in the middle of a field or rain barrel it might be stronger anecdotal evidence. However, I also hope that it's something other than oil in the rain.

Ocean air with the various sea salts is able to form small bubbles that have both positive and negative anionic and cationic charges, so hydro carbons could attach within the bubble/particle. Physics and oceanography has a whole area of study of that surface phenomenon. In my layman's opinion (IMLO)the oil could be carried by air currents; however, further investigation is necessary.

Methane in Gulf "astonishingly high": U.S. scientist History Channel Mega Disasters - Methane Explosion

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Scientists Warn Gulf Of Mexico Sea Floor Fractured “Beyond Repair”

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How BP Has Destroyed the Gulf of Mexico



SOURCE: PROSPECTIVITY OF THE ULTRA-DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO BY ROGER ANDERSON & ALBERT BOULANGER, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

It doesn't look good.

Ya, it's starting to suck more and more every day.

Link

Unfortunately (perhaps fortunately) this plan just might work. The unfortunate part being that I favor nuclear power—for electrical generation. But if this scenario is used, and backfires, it leaves the public with an even more negative vision of the whole nuclear power scenario.

If it should be employed and fails, the idea of nuclear electric power is even further blown to bits. Irradiated gulf sea life combined with an unstoppable blown well just does not make for a great poster for a nuclear future.

But that just a ain’t a goona happen anyway. It’s too bold of a move for any US elected official to consider. Meanwhile we will just sit back and enjoy a slippery, slimy, slidey Gulf and fumble for a slow motion solution…………..3 parts salt water……………..one part petroleum and assorted hydrocarbon gasses, ½ part Corexit, remaining shareholder value...…………02 parts hope……less…….ness.