Our blog (http://gulfblog.uga.edu) is written by the University of Georgia’s Marine Sciences Department, so the blog mostly describes the state of the water in the Gulf. In the latest post titled “Focusing in on Oil”, the writer describes how her “team” captured oil in various places about 20 miles or so off of the Mississippi Coast. Then, they analyzed the oil and determined that the oil found in the water was not from a “natural seep”, which means the oil came from the oil spill. Now, in a sample taken from the bottom a wellhead, it was found that “normal invertebrate fauna you’d expect to see in these sediments were not present”. Could this possibly be a sole good sign for the ecosystem, or is it insignificant?
Now, in the article titled “Where has the oil gone”, the writer describes how some of the oil found on the surface of the water has “disappeared”. Possible explanations for this include evaporation, dissolved gasses, and oil ingestion due to microbes. Out of the various possibilities listed in the blog, which do you think could potentially be the most dangerous to the ecosystem as a whole, let alone humans?
By reading this blog you can tell that there will be some severe damage done, besides what's already happened. What do you think some of the long term affects will be.
ReplyDeleteI believe the most dangerous possibility that could result from this spill could be from injecting chemicals from the oil. As the oil dissolves in the ocean, fish and other sea creatures will absorb the chemicals into their bodies, humans then eat these animals and over time the amount of dangerous chemicals in our bodies could increase.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought for everybody to ponder: What would be your reaction if there was a massive oil spill in Lake Erie and the oil was washing up along the shores of Ohio, Michigan, etc.
Jordan, I was abut to say the same thing about the animals ingesting the oil. Side note: Just like with all the plastic in the ocean, the small animals ingest it, the slightly bigger ones eat the small ones, the bigger keep eating the smaller, then we eat then and we ingest plastic too. The case will probably be the same with the Oil and I find this to be particularly alarming. Humans aren't meant to eat that stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd I read an article about the depression in the Gulf is on the rise since the spill. I would imagine the same would be true for any area. How would I react if oil were washing up near me? I would be infuriated. But I think because i don't live close to the spill, and I dont have to see it every day then it s sort of like, out of site out of mind.
Reading this blog made me realize how serious this spill really is. Not only does the gulf have to worry about the clean up but with so much oil out in open waters eventually this spill will directly affect everyone. How many resources and how much longer will it take to clean? Also what can we do to prevent the oil from spreading anymore? How can we contain the oil?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan on this. I also believe that the most dangerous outcome of this would be to the wildlife which effects our food. I know I don't want to be eating some seafood that could potentially have harmful chemicals from the spill..
ReplyDeleteReading this blog definitely reassures the multitude of problems still left in the gulf. Granted, stopping the oil was a necessary step but I feel like people around our country now think that it's all said and done. This is obviously not the case, the oil is still in the Gulf and it still poses many problems to the fragile underwater ecosystem.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to what Andrew said about the food, I'm wondering what some potential side effects would be to food that we ate from the infected sea creatures. And im curious as to whether there will be free healthcare to those affected by the oily animals
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that some of the oil disapeared. it makes you wonder where it went. Also, it was really interesting to see the sediment sample with the oil layer on the top.
ReplyDeleteI think that Amy's point relating to the food chain effect is one that needs to be addressed. I think we certainly take for granted all that the ocean provides for us (food, water to desalinate, and so much more).
ReplyDeleteWhen we contaminate the ocean and disrupt the natural order of things, we should expect for consequences to occur
This blog really puts the severity of the spill into perspective because most people only see the surface of the problem but these researchers went deeper. The lasting effects of the damage in the gulf will be there long after people forget about it. The area clearly will never be the same no matter what people try to get the public to believe. The environment just isn't capable of combating such a large environmental issue.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jordan, if there was oil washing up on the shore of Lake Erie in Ohio, it would be an improvement to the way the shore looks now. But in all seriousness, I believe that the citizens would definitely be more emotional and active about the problem. We all know that the spill is a big deal, but in Ohio we feel that we're too far away to do anything about it, so we feel distanced from the problem. That wouldn't be the case if it were a spill in Lake Erie. What does everyone else think? Do you feel distanced from the spill because we're all in Ohio?
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree with what everyone else has been saying, the dissolved oil being absorbed by the animals is the most physically damaging thing at the moment. However, the oil could also somewhat distill the water and increase the temperature as well which may cause a water level increase if the temperature increase can reach some of the Earth's ice-caps.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everyone talking about the fish and marine life being affected by the oil, then affecting us. We don't realize how severe it is, because we are miles away, but eventually it will get to us. We won't be able to eat as much seafood as everyone likes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in general, I also liked seeing the different sediments of clay. This blog was very informational.
i also think its weird to me that the oil just disappeared.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to what Amy said, I don't think everyone truly understands how big of an impact the oil spill has on the world because we don't see it first hand. I feel that has time goes on more and more people will realize because they will start becoming affected by it. For example gas prices might rise. If you affected directly by a disaster you are more likely want to go out and do anything you can to help. Do you think no matter where you live you should try and help the people affected by the oil spill? Wouldn't you want people in the US to do same if something tragic like this happened by you?
I believe no matter where we live we should help. It is our job as a country to act as a society and promote the greater good. Granted, most of us are unable to travel to the coast, but what can we do from here to help?
ReplyDeleteI really liked how in the blog they posted potential questions and then answered it right after. I had no idea about the invisible oil and I believe that we all need to help and contribute to the clean up.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking of the oil spill an came up with a theory that in the long-run, the Gulf might end up being cleaner then it was before the spill because BP and vounteer organizations are spending a lot of effort cleaning it up. What are people's thoughts on this theory.
ReplyDeleteJordan---Although this is my pure opinion, i don't think it is on BP's agenda to make the ocean even cleaner than it was, which turns out to not be so clean due to pollution. Not only do i think they would rather put man power into their business side of things, but also there is the growing problem in the Alaskan oil pipes as addressed in one of the other blogs.
ReplyDeleteAlthough a nice theory, i don't think a business is interested in anything more than making money, especially since BP has proven numerous times that they care more about spending money than insuring all safety precautions are taken seriously
I agree with Gracie, the Q and A segment helped maintain the discussion and cover many topics relevant to the spill and the effects.
ReplyDeletei liked the Q and A also. i was never too heavily involved with the news about the Oil Spill, but reading those helped me learn more than just the basics.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the most dangeroous would be the microbes ingesting the oil. then the microbes would be consumed by a larger specimen and that one by an even larger one and this would continue up the food chain and eventually to us humans.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kara and Stuart,
ReplyDeleteYeah it's insane. People don't know the entire impact. no one seems to be thinking about how this could seriously impact us.