Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are considering the effects of a major storm hitting the expanding oil spill in the Gulf. Experts say that only one storm would have a significant effect on efforts to stop the oil spilling into the Gulf and limit environmental damage. NOAA is considering such questions as whether the oil spill could affect storm formation by limiting water evaporation in the Gulf and how a hurricane would move the spill. Experts say that there is little information on how a hurricane would affect a spill. Robert Twilley, an oceanographer at Louisiana State University, expressed concern that a hurricane would move oil and salt into interior regions, which would not otherwise have been hurt by the spill.

Researchers Ponder a Hurricane Hitting the Oil-Slickened Gulf (New York Times 5/17/10)

June 3, 2010