Author: Michael Ferrari, PhD
VP, Applied Technology & Research
The short term outlook in the Gulf of Mexico does not look favorable for containment efforts concerning the oil slick that appears to be slowly drifting towards the US coastline. The map above shows the Weather Trends depiction of the wind pattern (over land) for the next four days, and it clearly shows a situation which those involved with the containment and recovery efforts had not hoped for. As of Monday morning, the prevailing pattern shows easterly winds that will be driving surface waters in the central/eastern Gulf towards the Louisiana coastline, with the winds remaining fairly strong through Wednesday. The LA fisheries industry, of which commercial shrimp and crab are the source of income for a significant number of coastal residents, stands to be among the first affected. Further weather related updates to the situation will be posted as developments arise.
