RE: Just how much oil is spilling into the Gulf?
AlexKovnat,
The oil is coming out of a break in the pipe 5,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. Exactly where it will come to the surface is not easily predictable and it moves around. Furthermore, as the oil rises through the water column it gets fractionated and much of it remains underwater with only the lighter components rising to the surface. It's probably not practical to skim more than 10% or 20% off the surface at best.
Intergrateful,
Serious long term damage has already taken place in the marsh lands of Louisiana. While the oceans may be VAST the Gulf of Mexico is relatively small and self contained. That is where most of the damage will occur. 20 years after the Exxon-Valdez spill Prince William Sound is still a long way from fully recovered.
