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| Where has all the oil gone? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 28 2010, 02:32 PM (148 Views) | |
| 1hp | Jul 28 2010, 02:32 PM Post #1 |
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Fulla-Carp
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Interesting read: Mighty oil-eating microbes help cleanup the Gulf ...................Perhaps the most important cause of the oil’s disappearance, some researchers suspect, is that the oil has been devoured by microbes. The lesson from past spills is that the lion’s share of the cleanup work is done by nature in the form of oil-eating bacteria and fungi. The microbes break down the hydrocarbons in oil to use as fuel to grow and reproduce. A bit of oil in the water is like a feeding frenzy, causing microbial populations to grow exponentially. Typically, there are enough microbes in the ocean to consume half of any oil spilled in a month or two, says Howarth. Such microbes have been found in every ocean of the world sampled, from the Arctic to Antarctica. But there are reasons to think that the process may occur more quickly in the Gulf than in other oceans. |
| There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and................ | |
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| John D'Oh | Jul 28 2010, 02:35 PM Post #2 |
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MAMIL
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That phoney-baloney scientific nonsense doesn't fool me. Obama has dissolved the oil with his AWESOMENESS! Next, the Bush deficit! |
| What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket? | |
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| Mikhailoh | Jul 28 2010, 02:59 PM Post #3 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| KlavierBauer | Jul 28 2010, 03:32 PM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Don't forget also, that we're dealing with light sweet crude, which are photo-volatile. After sitting in the sun a bit, most of this oil will naturally become nitrogen and phosphorous. In fact, on land when we spill light sweet crude, the cleanup is to soak it up with sand, and then move the sand to a large area where it can be spread around to shed it's volatile compounds after which it becomes fertilizer for the field it's sitting in. If we can just keep it contained (here we have failed) it will take care of itself fairly quickly on its own. |
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"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper "He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple | |
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| Luke's Dad | Jul 28 2010, 04:57 PM Post #5 |
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Emperor Pengin
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Nature's pretty good at taking care of herself, isn't she? Pretty darn good design. Very intelligent. Still doesn't mean we should abuse it, though. |
| The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it. | |
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5:03 PM Jul 10