News alert

From the NCAR computer model of the flow of Deepwater Horizon oil. (Image courtesy NCAR)

I have just received this news alert from the ENS and NCAR.

"BOULDER, Colorado, June 3, 2010 (Environmental News Service) - Oil from the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico is likely to extend along thousands of miles of the Atlantic coast and into the open ocean as early as this summer, according to a detailed computer modeling study released today by the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The computer simulations indicate that, once the oil in the uppermost ocean has become entrained in the Gulf of Mexico's fast-moving Loop Current, it is likely to reach Florida's Atlantic coast within weeks. It can then move north as far as about Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with the Gulf Stream, before turning east to the open ocean.

Whether the oil will be a thin film on the surface or mostly subsurface due to mixing in the upper ocean is not known. The flow in the model represents the best estimate of how ocean currents are likely to respond under typical wind conditions. More model studies are underway that will indicate what might happen to the oil in the Atlantic Ocean."

St. Marys Mayor DeLoughy sent this message to me on May 25th in response to my request for information regarding the City's plans to address this threat to Cumberland Island, our marshes and waterways: "The City will be working with the other governments as well as the Coast Guard. The good news is that NOAA feels the chances of the spill reaching us is less than 10% and take at least 3 weeks to get here; however if it does reach us it will be very difficult to clean up marshy areas. We will do our best to keep everyone informed."

I have heard nothing from the City since then.

As soon as I hear from Mr Yoder at VOAD (the agency that will be coordinating volunteer efforts) regarding training procedures, I will inform the 312 volunteers that have registered with the St. Marys EarthKeepers. We also have access to several thousand individuals and organizations throughout Georgia who have indicated a desire to help out should they be needed.