Oil Still North of Loop Current

KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 6B May 7, 2010 • 5 PM EDT

News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council

Oil Still North of Loop Current

Local, state and federal officials continue to assure that oil from the Transocean/BP spill is positioned well north of the Loop Current and there are no impacts projected for the next 72 hours to any part of the state of Florida and likely longer for the Keys

Significant speculation and rumors continue to permeate various communications’ channels regarding the likelihood of oiling entering the Loop Current and making its way down to the Keys.

The latest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast trajectory model for Sunday, May 9, does show the slick pushing slightly to the south in the northern Gulf of Mexico, likely from winds that day forecast to blow from the north until Monday, when a predominantly southeastern flow is projected to return. The southern edge of the slick was positioned about 40 miles north of the Loop Current Friday afternoon, officials said Friday afternoon.

At least one ocean expert, Eric Chassignet, director of the Center for Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University, believes during the next few days the Loop Current will migrate further south, increasing the distance between it and the oil slick. FSU is hosting an Oil Spill Academic Task Force’s website at http://oilspill.fsu.edu compiling resources of Florida's universities with numerous models and information related to projected movements of the oil spill. Chassignet’s animated model is at http://oilspill.fsu.edu/model_output/home.html.
Since there is no expert agreement regarding long-range oil movements, local, state and federal officials continue strategic planning to attack any possible oil landings in Florida including the Keys. Although, a spill of this magnitude has never been foreseen, comprehensive plans are being adapted by officials to fight the spill, if needed. Those plans, which are public documents, are available at:
The U.S. Coast Guard Florida Keys Area Contingency Plan (725-page document)
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/KWACP/Documents/PDF/ACP/Complete%20Volume%20I.pdf

NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration's Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning and Response Considerations

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/70_coral_full_report.pdf
Sensitivity of Coastal Environments and Wildlife to Spilled Oil South Florida Atlas (Dry Tortugas to Boca Raton)

http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/KWACP/Documents/PDF/ESI/SFlorida/LOWRES/S_FL05.PDF
Friday afternoon, the Associated Press reported a giant concrete-and-steel containment box was lowered to about 200 feet above one of two remaining leaks. The apparatus is designed to collect as much as 85 percent of the leaking oil and funnel it up to a tanker. The structure, which has never before been deployed in deep water, could be operational by Sunday or Monday, according to the AP.
The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more.
TDC social media sites include:

http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov