NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Marine scientists have discovered a massive
new plume of what they believe to be oil deep beneath the Gulf of
Mexico, stretching 22 miles from the leaking wellhead northeast
toward Mobile Bay, Alabama.
The discovery by researchers on the University of South Florida
College of Marine Science's Weatherbird II vessel is the second
significant undersea plume recorded since the Deepwater Horizon
exploded on April 20.
David Hollander, associate professor of chemical oceanography at
the school, says the thick plume was detected just beneath the
surface down to about 3,300 feet. He says it's more than 6 miles
wide.
Scientists say they are worried the undersea plumes may be from
chemical dispersants used to break up the oil a mile under the
surface.

Permalink | Comments