View of Gulf Oil Spill Over Time

Two NASA satellites are capturing images of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which began April 20, 2010, with the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. This series of images reveals a space-based view of the burning oil rig and the ensuing oil spill, through May 24.

The imagery comes from the MODIS instruments aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. The oil slick appears grayish-beige in these images. The shape of the spill changes due to weather conditions, currents and the use of oil-dispersing chemicals.

Tropical Cyclone Near Hong Kong

May 27 at 1:35 a.m. EDT shows System 93W as a comma-like area of showers and thunderstorms. There are two areas of strong thunderstorms with very high, cold cloud tops (purple) east of the center of circulation.

The low pressure area is located near 20.4 North and 115.3 East, about 130 nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong. NASA's Aqua satellite flew over System 93W and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument onboard captured an infrared image of it on May 27 at 1:35 a.m. EDT (05:35 UTC). The AIRS image showed System 93W as a comma-like area of showers and thunderstorms. AIRS infrared imagery indicated there were two areas of strong thunderstorms with very high, cold cloud tops east of the center of circulation.

Eastern Pacific for Tropical Development

On May 27 at 1:35 a.m. EDT (05:35 UTC) AIRS imagery showed System 90E developing the trademark tropical cyclone approximately 205 nautical miles south of Salina Cruz, Mexico near 12.8 North and 94.5 West.

AIRS infrared imagery indicated there were four areas of strong thunderstorms with very high, cold cloud tops around the center of circulation. Infrared satellite imagery indicates a slowly consolidating, broad low-level circulation center.

Keep Watch on Gulf Current Near Spill

Scientists and agencies monitoring the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are keeping a wary eye on changes in the nearby Loop Current, a warm ocean current that is part of the Gulf Stream. Beginning as a large flow of warm water from the Caribbean, the Loop Current heads up into the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico and then turns south before finally moving out through the Straits of Florida and northward into the Gulf Stream. Deep and fast moving, the Loop Current often breaks off and forms strong, clockwise rotating eddies called anticyclones that travel westward into the Gulf. The currents along the outer edges of the Loop Current, as well as these eddies, have been clocked at speeds as high as three to four knots (three to five miles per hour), comparable to the fastest ocean currents ever observed.

Because the Loop Current and its eddies are warmer, and thus higher in surface elevation, than the surrounding waters, they are easily spotted by satellite altimeters, such as those aboard the NASA/French Space Agency Jason 1 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2 satellites. Scientists use the latest satellite measurements of sea-surface height from these and other satellite altimeters to create maps showing the location, direction and speed of currents in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Aftermath of the Great Escape...

Might have known there would be some fall out from Bella's escape - she has caught canine flu; the Vet suspects it was from a combination of her being out all night and stressed and then spending a few hours at the pound.

Last Sunday morning took her to the Vets and $140 later, laden with pills, cough mixture and a needle she settled down to sleep the day away. The Vet warned me that Fozz would probably get it also as it was highly contagious - 7 - 10 days.

Sure enough 8 days later Fozz spent last night coughing all night and bringing up foam. I spent the night cleaning up and trying to reassure him until I could get him to the Vets. Gave him some of Bell's cough syrup as directed too.

So another $140 and another sick puppy (well big dog). Fozzie can manage to look sooo sooo sick and mournful....lol

I just hope he doesn't cough as much tonight so we can both get some sleep.....rotfl.

So I have two dogs who are spending most of their time sleeping with occasional forays outside to check the weather!

Although Bella is almost over it (well she spends most of her life sleeping anyway) she still wants some TLC and she is hogging the heater (even when it isn't on....lol

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Tropical Storm Laila Northern Indian Ocean

The waning Laila over southeastern India on May 21 at 3:53 a.m. EDT. The purple indicates remaining strong thunderstorms.

This 3-D image of Cyclone Laila was made using data from TRMM's Precipitation Radar. It shows that the powerful thunderstorms northwest of tropical cyclone Laila shot up to heights above 17.5 kilometers (~57,415 feet/10.8 miles).

Tropical Storm 02A

Tropical Storm 02A on May 19 at 21:59 UTC (5:59 p.m. EDT) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder known as the AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of the storm. The infrared image showed 02A has some stronger thunderstorms around its center. Additionally, the image showed warm waters of more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (threshold for maintaining tropical cyclones) in the Gulf of Aden and western Arabian Sea. The imagery also showed much warmer land temperatures in Yemen to the storm's north.

Second Tropical Storm Form Near the Horn of Africa

Tropical Storm 2A at 09:41 UTC (5:41 a.m. EDT) just as the storm was strengthening to tropical storm status. The visible image clearly shows higher thunderstorms around the center.

The Northern Indian Ocean cyclone season is off to a roaring start, as the second tropical storm formed within a day of the first one. NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Tropical Storm 02A today, May 19 and captured infrared, microwave and visible images of the storm.

At 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) on May 19, Tropical Storm 02A had maximum sustained winds near 39 mph, with higher gusts. It was located in the Arabian Sea (part of the Northern Indian Ocean) about 135 miles east-southeast of Cape Guardafui, Somalia. That's near 11.3 North and 53.5 East. It was moving west-northwest near 6 mph (5 knots).

Tropical Cyclone 1B (Northern Indian Ocean)

The first tropical storm of the Northern Indian Ocean cyclone season has formed and NASA's Aqua satellite captured its birth. Tropical Storm 1B formed in the early morning hours as the convection around the low level circulation center increased since May 17.

NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of 1B from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) at 7:25 UTC (12:25 p.m. Asia/Kolkata time) today, May 18, where if formed off of India's east coast in the Bay of Bengal.

Eyjafjallajokull’s Ash Plume Mixing with Weather System

Today, May 13, the brown ash plume is mixing with the clouds associated with that system. Imagery from NASA's Terra satellite's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument taken at 12:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. EDT) on May 13, shows the ash plume is no longer forcefully streaming to the south-southeast.

Volcanic Plume Meets and Occluded Weather

A visible image on Wednesday, May 12 at 13:10 UTC (9:10 a.m. EDT) from NASA's Aqua satellite's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano's ash plume (brown).

Ash Plume of Icelandic Volcano

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano's Ash Plume Streaming

The image was captured on May 11 at 12:15 UTC (8:15 a.m. EDT), and shows a dark brown ash plume streaming south from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull Volcano and over the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

And Still Bad Luck Continues.....

I had an idea for a new art work but I needed some very fine adhesive tape - 3mm (1/8") so spent most of yesterday trying to source some. Thought pin striping used on cars might work and I bought a small roll but it would not stick to my canvas so spent ages googling and ringing around.

In the end I located something that looked like it would work and rang the manufacturers to find somewhere local where I could buy it. Then rang them to confirm they had some -"Yes, 9 rolls" was the reply but it is expensive. Each roll had 50 ms on it and I needed about 85mts so I figured I would buy one roll and see if it worked then if it did I could get another and if it didn't I would only be out of pocket one roll.

This morning I went to use my mobile and discovered it wouldn't work. Okay, figured I would swing past the mobile shop and get it checked on my way. Sim card dead - put in new one, takes 30 minutes to activate. Okay but I will be yelling loudly tomorrow if it goes past the deadline!!

Of I went to the tape shop. Nice man took my order, processed it and then inform me it would take up to 20 mins to collect. (very big warehouse)

Fine - I'll just stand here like a drip trying to look inconspicuous.

50 mins later!!!

Finally I had my tape. Paid over a large wad of cash and confirmed they had another 8 rolls, told guy I would be back to buy another roll and he suggested I ring the order through then it would be ready so off I went.

Got home maybe 2 hrs had passed since the new sim card inserted into phone - turned it on - "sim card registration failed". GGGrrrrrr

Rang the dealer - oh, sorry takes 24 hours. You said 15 mins. Sorry made a mistake that is only for new sim cards. So no phone for another 22 hours. Okay.

Tried the tape - worked like a charm. Rang and ordered another roll to pick up late in the afternoon. This time they would have the roll ready at the counter for me to pick up. Spent the rest of my time placing the tape on the canvas.

Off to collect other roll. Walked in - serviceman all smiles - 'here you go, no waiting this time...lol"

Paid the remainder of my cash and got out to the car. Looked in the bag - er the tape was too wide.

Back inside - 'this is 6mm I ordered 3mm' "Oh, what sorry, let me check"

Whoever had filled the order must have picked up the wrong tape. Phone calls to back of warehouse. "Get right one for customer!"

Yes, once again I stood there looking like a shag on a rock; this time for an hour.

Phone calls back and forth; part numbers; bin location numbers; width of tape. I was getting edgier by the minute.

Then sadly this time the result was - "looks like the wrong ones have been entered on the system, in actual fact we have no more of the one you purchased this morning and they have to come from the US, takes about 4-6 weeks!!"

"We usually don't stock them and if you want one you need to buy the whole box of 12!!"

Need to mortgage house to pay for 12 rolls.....rotfl.

I said "forget it" I will try and figure out something else.

Was very upset and frustrated - seemed like a whole day wasted not to mention all the cash I handed out. My creative urge badly dented.

So I came home in a grumpy mood - no more tape and no mobile and a canvas with 50 metres of 3mm tape all over it and a big blank area where the remaining tape was supposed to go!!!

Aarrrgghhh



PSS - Jules : I tried first to cut down some tape but it was - er...dangerous....rotfl. Trying to cut a 1/8" slice from a roll of painter's masking tape was, to say the least, a danger to all my fingers.

The original guy who got the tape was asked and did go back and check. On the computer it said they had 8 but turned out the wrong size had been stuck in the 1/8" container and it was good fortune that I actually got one. To be fair they did check all the boxes of that product in different sizes.


UPDATE : My mobile will now be out of action until Friday!! Goodness knows the reason, I couldn't understand the technician because of the accent...lol. But because of all my complaints they are deducting $25 off my bill this month.


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Gulf Oil Slick Appears as Dull Gray

The oil slick appears as a dull gray color in the shape of a letter “U,” and is located southeast of the Mississippi Delta.

the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

The growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on May 7, 2010. On April 20, an explosion destroyed the Deepwater Horizon oil platform operating in the Gulf 80 kilometers (50 miles) offshore, resulting in substantial loss of life and releasing 5,000 barrels of oil per day into the water.

Sky on the Gulf Oil Spill

The tail end of the Mississippi Delta showing the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico on May 4, 2010. Part of the river delta and nearby Louisiana coast appear dark in the sunglint. This phenomenon is caused by sunlight reflecting off the water surface, in a mirror-like manner, directly back towards the astronaut observer onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Keeping Eye on the Gulf Oil Spill

The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, May 4, at 18:50 UTC, or 2:50 p.m. EDT. The Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured this visible-light image. The bulk of the spill appears as a dull gray area southeast of the Mississippi Delta.

My Luck

Through slow reflexes, bad luck or whatever, I didn't shut the door quick enough and the younger of my two dogs fled the scene.

Normally if she manages to get out the door, she races over the road then back again and does it about three times before she collapses in exhaustion. Plays this silly game with me. Never has she run away or even looked like she would.

For some reason this time she just ran - got in the car and was told by a child that she has ran across the main road, over the railway bridge and gone left. I drove all the streets looking for her but no sign then came back home because I had left the front door open.

Closed up the house and started to drive off again when another child told me he had followed her to the really busy main road over 1 k away but didn't know which direction she went after that.

I guess I drove around for a few hours; till it was just too dark to see any more. Then back out early this morning. Trouble is I know she would have no idea where she was and could be 5 kms or more in any direction.

I worry because she is out overnight and it was cold - she has never stayed out overnight in her life; her breed cannot cope with cold.

Rang the local pound and gave them all her info - she is micro-chipped but that only works if someone hands her in; takes her to a vet - if she isn't picked up or she is injured then......

PS Got her!!

Someone saw her wandering around at lunch time and reported it to the Pound and they went and caught her.

I had been watching their website (they take photos of the dogs and post them continually as each one comes in) and saw her late in the day. I had put her details down with them and was a little surpised they didnt ring.

When I got there the chip number they had and mine were not the same - last number was different and when they punched it up it said she wasnt recorded. Anyway they said it was highly unlikely she was mine and to check and, thank goodness, it was her.

Don't know what I would have done if I didnt have the 'net and kept checking because even if I had rung they would have said she wasnt there because they thought she was a Boxer puppy about 10mths old when she is an Aussie Bulldog and 2 1/2.

Anyway, she is home - very subdued, has been sleeping on my bed since it happened - think she must have been wandering the whole time she was missing.

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