Earth Equity News

Oil Complicates Forecasts on Hurricane Season Eve. By Holbrook Mohr, AP, May 31, 2010. “As hurricane season approaches, the giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico takes weather forecasters into nearly uncharted waters. The Gulf is a superhighway for hurricanes that form or explode over pools of hot water, then usually move north or west toward the coast... Some fear a horrific combination of damaging winds and large waves pushing oil deeper into estuaries and wetlands and coating miles of debris-littered coastline in a pungent, sticky mess. And the worst effects of an oil-soaked storm surge might not be felt for years: If oil is pushed deep into coastal marshes that act as a natural speed bump for storm surges, areas including New Orleans could be more vulnerable to bad storms for a long time. Experts say there are few, if any, studies on such a scenario… The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [has] predicted 14 to 23 tropical storms this year, including up to seven major hurricanes. ‘This season could be one of the more active on record,’ agency Administrator Jane Lubchenco said.”