NU Online News Service, May 19, 3:45p.m. EDT
What would happen if a hurricane struck the Gulf of Mexico while the oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion remains on the water's surface?
Some scientists believe a storm could drive the slick inland, and others worry that oil could be carried over great distances, according to a story that appeared May 17 in The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/05/17/17climatewire-researchers-ponder-a-hurricane-hitting-the-o-86257.html).
Experts quoted in the The New York Times story speculate on whether a storm will break up the oil slick and also talk about the effects storm surge will have. Could a hurricane-driven wave of oil wash over the Gulf Coast?
Initially, two of the experts said, the movement of oil over the water and the probable size of the slick at the time of a storm must be taken into account to develop proper models.
For more details, see the The New York Times story, titled "Researchers Ponder a Hurricane Hitting the Oil-Slicked Gulf of Mexico."
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