What would happen if a hurricane hit an oil slick in the Gulf?

What will the hurricane do to the oil slick in the Gulf?

• The high winds and seas will mix and “weather” the oil which can help accelerate the biodegradation process.

• The high winds may distribute oil over a wider area, but it is difficult to model exactly where the oil may be transported.

• Movement of oil would depend greatly on the track of the hurricane.

• Storms’ surges may carry oil into the coastline and inland as far as the surge reaches. Debris resulting from the hurricane may be contaminated by oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident, but also from other oil releases that may occur during the storm.

• A hurricane’s winds rotate counter-clockwise.

Thus, in VERY GENERAL TERMS:

■A hurricane passing to the west of the oil slick could drive oil to the coast.

■A hurricane passing to the east of the slick could drive the oil away from the coast.

■However, the details of the evolution of the storm, the track, the wind speed, the size, the forward motion and the intensity are all unknowns at this point and may alter this general statement.