European Space Agency Satellite Images Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

[G_j]

http://news.softpedia.com/news/ESA-Satellite-Images-Gulf-of-Mexico-Oil-Spill-141159.shtml

ESA Satellite Images Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
The slick is spreading rapidly
By Tudor Vieru, Science Editor
May 3rd, 2010, 13:47 GMT


Scientists at the European Space Agency have just released a new set of images that show the extent of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and then sank into the waters there two days later. Since then, thousands of barrels of crude oil have been spilling into the Gulf each day, and the ensuing oil slick now threatens Louisiana coastlines, delicate natural reserves, as well as beaches belonging to several cities. ESA satellite Envisat has been keeping an eye on the evolution of the oil stain, officials at the space agency say.

Over this weekend, changing winds hampered clean-up efforts, just like they did last weekend. Numerous vessels belonging to BP, the oil company that operated the semi-submersible platform, and state and federal authorities are attempting to deploy various blocks that could stop the oil slick from advancing towards the coast. However, rough seas and unforgiving winds are rendering their best efforts useless. The oil has now reached an area immediately adjacent to the Mississippi Delta National Wildlife Refuge, as seen in the new Envisat image.

The white dots and lines that also appear in the photograph are in fact ships attempting to limit the scale of the devastation. But things do not look very promising, as US President Barack Obama said himself that the disaster might be unprecedented in scale. The American efforts are being aided from several sources, including ESA, which provides Envisat data to relevant US authorities under the provisions of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. The US Coast Guard delegated the US Geological Survey (USGS) to make an official request for the fast-response data from ESA.

As such, Envisat images of the Gulf of Mexico oil slick are available to the USCG two hours after ESA mission controllers download them from the satellite. “Envisat acquired these images from its Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) and Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) on 2 May 03:45 UTC (Saturday night local time) and on 2 May 16:10 UTC (Sunday morning local time), respectively. Radar is especially suited for detecting oil spills because it works day and night, can see through clouds (unlike optical sensors) and is particularly sensitive to the smoother water surface caused by the oil,” ESA experts write in a press release.

“The next ASAR and MERIS images of the oil spill are scheduled for 5 May, with the images being made available about two hours later. Envisat images are being provided to US authorities immediately after they are acquired through the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. On 22 April the US Geological Survey, on behalf of the US Coast Guard, requested the Charter to provide rapid access to radar and optical satellite imagery of the oil slick. Since then, Envisat MERIS and ASAR data have been provided in near-real time and have been used by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ,” they add.


In this radar image, acquired from Envisat's Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) on 2 May 2010 03:45 UTC (Saturday night local time), the oil spill is visible due east of the Delta National Wildlife Refuge extending into the Gulf of Mexico. The white dots are oil rigs and ships. Radar is especially suited for detecting oil spills because it works day and night, can see through clouds (unlike optical sensors) and is particularly sensitive to the smoother water surface caused by the oil.

Credits: ESA
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM7TYJPO8G_index_1.html#subhead1

[Egnever]

1. Ugh Who in the world let them place that thing

so close to a wildlife refuge? Obviously it isnt anywhere near as close as it looks but it looks like its closer to the refuge than anything else. This is truely tragic. I can only hope it is a huge wake up call to the whole world.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

2. Ironic Rorschach Time-

Does anyone else see a crucified man's torso with his head thrown back in that oil spill?

[Webster Green]

3. I'm seeing Ian Anderson twirling his flute.

But then, seeing Tull live was like going to church for me.

The oil slick looks smaller than previous pictures I've seen.

What gives? :shrug:

[Adsos Letter]

4. I can see both, now that you mention it

and I gotta say that seeing Jethro Tull live, in 1975 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich was outstanding, from what I remember of it.

[Richard D]

8. Nevermind

deleted

[G_j]

7. I'd choose something evil

like Cheney on a hunting trip

[DireStrike]

6. I dunno, but if it unfurls into a giant crucified jesus

I should probably think about going to church.

[G_j]

5. ==

[BeFree]

9. What is it we see?

I believe it to be just a relatively small amount of oil that has risen to the surface without mixing with water. The rest of the oil has mixed with the Gulf waters and is suspended under the surface. When you see those brown streaks on the videos, you're seeing an oil and water mixture that is coagulating.

The satellite images are the surface sheen of oil and represent little of what is under the surface.

[BeFree]

10. And

It puzzled me why no great amounts of oil have hit land.

That's when the idea came that the mixing is the majority. If the oil was on the surface, the winds would have blown the oil onto shore. That has hardly happened.

Since the oil is embodied in the water (emulsified) it isn't laying out on top of the water. There is little separation between oil and water. It all mixed together.

IOW, trillions of gallons of Gulf water are thoroughly polluted with oil. Probably from bottom to top. From the surface to 5,000 feet deep.

[G_j]

12. Winds holding Gulf oil spill offshore

according to this article from Mon.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-03-oil-well_N.htm

Winds holding Gulf oil spill offshore
By Donna Leinwand and Brian Winter, USA TODAY

PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. — Some good news swept through here Monday: Winds so far are keeping most of the Gulf oil spill away from shore, and chemicals are doing a decent job dispersing the giant swath of slick crude oil looming off the coast.
Charlie Henry, a science coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), cautioned that the long-term path of the oil remains unclear. Officials from Louisiana to Florida said they are still preparing for an environmental catastrophe in days and weeks ahead.

Yet, Henry said, weather forecasts called for winds from the north today, which could give the government, energy company BP and hundreds of area fishermen some extra time to lay inflatable boom and take other preventive measures.

"We're expecting some good news," Henry said. He said NOAA scientists were working to produce a model "from scratch" that would use historic data on ocean currents and winds to project where the slick might head next.

..more..

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, G_j.