Independent scientists and government officials say there's a disaster we can't see in the Gulf of Mexico's mysterious depths, the ruin of a world inhabited by enormous sperm whales and tiny, invisible plankton.
Researchers have said they have found at least two massive underwater plumes of what appears to be oil, each hundreds of feet deep and stretching for miles. Yet the chief executive of BP PLC -- which has for weeks downplayed everything from the amount of oil spewing into the Gulf to the environmental impact -- said there is "no evidence" that huge amounts of oil are suspended undersea
BP CEO Tony Hayward said the oil naturally gravitates to the surface -- and any oil below was just making its way up. However, researchers say the disaster in waters where light doesn't shine through could ripple across the food chain.
"Every fish and invertebrate contacting the oil is probably dying. I have no doubt about that," said Prosanta Chakrabarty, a Louisiana State University fish biologist.
On the surface, a 24-hour camera fixed on the spewing, blown-out well and the images of dead, oil-soaked birds have been evidence of the calamity. At least 20 million gallons of oil and possibly 43 million gallons have spilled since the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and sank in April.
That has far eclipsed the 11 million gallons released during the Exxon Valdez spill off Alaska's coast in 1989. But there is no camera to capture what happens in the rest of the vast Gulf, which sprawls across 600,000 square miles and reaches more than 14,000 feet at its deepest point.
Every night, the denizens of the deep make forays to shallower depths to eat -- and be eaten by -- other fish, according to marine scientists who describe it as the largest migration on earth.
In turn, several species closest to the surface -- including red snapper, shrimp and menhaden -- help drive the Gulf Coast fishing industry. Others such as marlin, cobia and yellowfin tuna sit atop the food chain and are chased by the Gulf's charter fishing fleet.
Many of those species are now in their annual spawning seasons. Eggs exposed to oil would quickly perish. Those that survived to hatch could starve if the plankton at the base of the food chain suffer. Larger fish are more resilient, but not immune to the toxic effects of oil.
The Gulf's largest spill was in 1979, when the Ixtoc I platform off Mexico's Yucatan peninsula blew up and released 140 million gallons of oil. But that was in relatively shallow waters -- about 160 feet deep -- and much of the oil stayed on the surface where it broke down and became less toxic by the time it reached the Texas coast.
But last week, a team from the University of South Florida reported a plume was headed toward the continental shelf off the Alabama coastline, waters thick with fish and other marine life.
The researchers said oil in the plumes had dissolved into the water, possibly a result of chemical dispersants used to break up the spill. That makes it more dangerous to fish larvae and creatures that are filter feeders.
Responding to Hayward's assertion, one researcher noted that scientists from several different universities have come to similar conclusions about the plumes after doing separate testing.
No major fish kills have been reported, but federal officials said the impacts could take years to unfold.
"This is just a giant experiment going on and we're trying to understand scientifically what this means," said Roger Helm, a senior official with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2009, LSU's Chakrabarty discovered two new species of bottom-dwelling pancake batfish about 30 miles off the Louisiana coastline -- right in line with the pathway of the spill caused when the Deepwater Horizon burned and sank April 24.
By the time an article in the Journal of Fish Biology detailing the discovery appears in the August edition, Chakrabarty said, the two species -- which pull themselves along the seafloor with feet-like fins -- could be gone or in serious decline.
"There are species out there that haven't been described, and they're going to disappear," he said.
Recent discoveries of endangered sea turtles soaked in oil and 22 dolphins found dead in the spill zone only hint at the scope of a potential calamity that could last years and unravel the Gulf's food web.
Concerns about damage to the fishery already is turning away potential customers for charter boat captains such as Troy Wetzel of Venice. To get to waters unaffected by the spill, Wetzel said he would have to take his boat 100 miles or more into the Gulf -- jacking up his fuel costs to where only the wealthiest clients could afford to go fishing.
Significant amounts of crude oil seep naturally from thousands of small rifts in the Gulf's floor -- as much as two Exxon Valdez spills every year, according to a 2000 report from government and academic researchers. Microbes that live in the water break down the oil.
The number of microbes that grow in response to the more concentrated BP spill could tip that system out of balance, LSU oceanographer Mark Benfield said.
Too many microbes in the sea could suck oxygen from the water, creating an uninhabitable hypoxic area, or "dead zone."
Preliminary evidence of increased hypoxia in the Gulf was seen during an early May cruise aboard the R/V Pelican, carrying researchers from the University of Georgia, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi.
An estimated 910,000 gallons of dispersants -- enough to fill more than 100 tanker trucks -- are contributing a new toxin to the mix. Containing petroleum distillates and propylene glycol, the dispersants' effects on marine life are still unknown.
What is known is that by breaking down oil into smaller droplets, dispersants reduce the oil's buoyancy, slowing or stalling the crude's rise to the surface and making it harder to track the spill.
Dispersing the oil lower into the water column protects beaches, but also keeps it in cooler waters where oil does not break down as fast. That could prolong the oil's potential to poison fish, said Larry McKinney, director of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
"There's a school of thought that says we've made it worse because of the dispersants," he said.
Monday, May 31, 2010
6 died, 7 ill after eating poisonous plants
URUMQI - Six people have died and seven others are seriously ill in hospital after they mistakenly ate poisonous plants Sunday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the local government said Monday.
The victims were all workers at an iron mine in Toli County, Tacheng Prefecture, a county government spokesman said.
He said the workers fell ill after they ate potherbs they had mistaken for celery.
Four of the victims died on the way to hospital. Two others failed to respond to emergency treatment and died Sunday night.
As of midday Monday, the seven were in critical conditions.
Local authorities have launched an investigation.
The victims were all workers at an iron mine in Toli County, Tacheng Prefecture, a county government spokesman said.
He said the workers fell ill after they ate potherbs they had mistaken for celery.
Four of the victims died on the way to hospital. Two others failed to respond to emergency treatment and died Sunday night.
As of midday Monday, the seven were in critical conditions.
Local authorities have launched an investigation.
Selecting Cookware Set That Are Secure To Use
When we are purchasing cookware, the first important thing that comes to our mind is the quality , then the price . At the same time . the function of cookware cannot be ignored.
The first factor to be thought of is the fabric in which the cookware is made. The primary option is the stainless Carbon Steel Cookware that's hottest, durable and convenient. It's also the preferred cookware materials which are highly resistant in opposition to wear and tear and on the identical time much less expensive. It is also topic to criticism because the metals like iron, nickel, and chromium used on this alloy is alleged to create well being hazards.
The other option for the home maker is the ceramic pottery, Enamel Cookware or glass cookware. All these supplies may be simply cleaned and are additionally heat resistant. The most recent addition to this category is the plastic ware used for both cooking and storing. It has the benefit of being gentle weight, unbreakable and likewise being utilized in Micro wave ovens where different metals aren't suitable. Forged iron cookware is generally pre coated with unsalted fat and heated to avoid rusting within the absence of porcelain coating.
Basing your actual need , to choose the appropriate the cookware, you will cook a delicious dish .
The first factor to be thought of is the fabric in which the cookware is made. The primary option is the stainless Carbon Steel Cookware that's hottest, durable and convenient. It's also the preferred cookware materials which are highly resistant in opposition to wear and tear and on the identical time much less expensive. It is also topic to criticism because the metals like iron, nickel, and chromium used on this alloy is alleged to create well being hazards.
The other option for the home maker is the ceramic pottery, Enamel Cookware or glass cookware. All these supplies may be simply cleaned and are additionally heat resistant. The most recent addition to this category is the plastic ware used for both cooking and storing. It has the benefit of being gentle weight, unbreakable and likewise being utilized in Micro wave ovens where different metals aren't suitable. Forged iron cookware is generally pre coated with unsalted fat and heated to avoid rusting within the absence of porcelain coating.
Basing your actual need , to choose the appropriate the cookware, you will cook a delicious dish .
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tiffany jewelry in career
There is an old saying . People can not leave water , just like people who can’t leave jewelry . From this sentence , we can get a conclusion that jewelry plays so important role in people’s life . With the advantages of neat, up-to-date and delicate, those appropriate-for-all jewelry are such that the real outstanding women in professional location cannot live without them. It is for sure that the price of the jewelry soars with the perfect match for the professional outfits and the career place.
However , when you buy these tiffany jewelry , there are many considerations you should keep in mind. First you should get the most for your money while searching for jewelry can be a trying experience in many cases. Search what you are interested in on the internet. While it is sometimes difficult to select adornments for other people, finding a perfect piece of tiffany jewellery is like a stroke of luck, but can happen frequently if the shopper puts in enough effortThe second thing that you should consider is the types of tiffany jewelry . There are many types of tiffany jewelry , such as tiffany bracelet, tiffany key pendant , tiffany necklace and other tiffany wholesale things . As to what kind of tiffany jewelry you should buy , you should choose according to the sitation .
However , when you buy these tiffany jewelry , there are many considerations you should keep in mind. First you should get the most for your money while searching for jewelry can be a trying experience in many cases. Search what you are interested in on the internet. While it is sometimes difficult to select adornments for other people, finding a perfect piece of tiffany jewellery is like a stroke of luck, but can happen frequently if the shopper puts in enough effortThe second thing that you should consider is the types of tiffany jewelry . There are many types of tiffany jewelry , such as tiffany bracelet, tiffany key pendant , tiffany necklace and other tiffany wholesale things . As to what kind of tiffany jewelry you should buy , you should choose according to the sitation .
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Purchasing cookware
Cookware is the utensil which is used to cook food in kitchen. Without cookware, there is no meaning of kitchen. The type of cookware, one uses in her kitchen depends, upon many factors. It depends upon her cooking style, number of people and how much time she wants to devote on caring for the cookware.
Those types of cookware include Aluminum Cookware, Enamel Cookware, non-stick, and stainless Cast Iron Cookware and Bakeware .
Aluminum cookware is one of the least expensive types of cookware and can be purchased just about anywhere that kitchen products are sold. Aluminum cookware is one of the lighter of the types and works very well for sautéing and for frying foods because it responds very well to the heat and is a great heat conductor.
Non-stick Cast Iron Cookware is one of the easier types of cookware to work with because it has a coating that prevents the food from sticking which makes it very easy to clean. The non-stick cookware is great for cooking food items that tend to stick to the pan because the surface prevents these foods from sticking. This is most beneficial when cooking foods like rice or eggs, which tend to stick quite easily. One downside to this type of cookware is that it doesn’t transfer heat as well to the food being cooked because of the non-stick coating that is appliedWhen choosing a cookware, make sure it is easy-to-clean and easy-to-maintain. Non-stick cookware can be easily cleaned if you do not use any oil or spray. You can easily find cookware that give lifetime warranty while others offer one or two year warranty only. Heat conductivity is an important consideration in case of cookware. Conductivity means ability of the cookware to transfer heat from the source to the food in an efficient manner. Efficiency in this case, it should transmit the heat in a consistent manner. Cookwares which are more efficient in conducting heat are more expensive as these utensils have heavy bottom
Those types of cookware include Aluminum Cookware, Enamel Cookware, non-stick, and stainless Cast Iron Cookware and Bakeware .
Aluminum cookware is one of the least expensive types of cookware and can be purchased just about anywhere that kitchen products are sold. Aluminum cookware is one of the lighter of the types and works very well for sautéing and for frying foods because it responds very well to the heat and is a great heat conductor.
Non-stick Cast Iron Cookware is one of the easier types of cookware to work with because it has a coating that prevents the food from sticking which makes it very easy to clean. The non-stick cookware is great for cooking food items that tend to stick to the pan because the surface prevents these foods from sticking. This is most beneficial when cooking foods like rice or eggs, which tend to stick quite easily. One downside to this type of cookware is that it doesn’t transfer heat as well to the food being cooked because of the non-stick coating that is appliedWhen choosing a cookware, make sure it is easy-to-clean and easy-to-maintain. Non-stick cookware can be easily cleaned if you do not use any oil or spray. You can easily find cookware that give lifetime warranty while others offer one or two year warranty only. Heat conductivity is an important consideration in case of cookware. Conductivity means ability of the cookware to transfer heat from the source to the food in an efficient manner. Efficiency in this case, it should transmit the heat in a consistent manner. Cookwares which are more efficient in conducting heat are more expensive as these utensils have heavy bottom
Purchase affordable replica handbags
When you buy a name brand designer handbag, a big part of the price you pay is just for the name. It has nothing to do with the quality of the bag that is being sold. Do not get me wrong, those expensive designer bags are well made, but you are paying for more than just the quality when you buy the name brands.
Another interesting thing about replica bags is that they might come in more options than the real one. In case you liked the design of one these bags but are not too happy with the color or perhaps some other aspect of it, then you should probably be able to customize it to your tastes. Imagine being able to find something customized with a designer label on! This is something that is only possible in the world of imitation bags. Hence, with some effort and hard shopping, you can perhaps find the kind of bag that you would like and is suited for your tastes.
So to buy what is affordable is much more rational for people and is also beneficial for managing the financial problem of people. Therefore, I recommend those who love designer handbags to buy the affordable designer replica handbags.
Another interesting thing about replica bags is that they might come in more options than the real one. In case you liked the design of one these bags but are not too happy with the color or perhaps some other aspect of it, then you should probably be able to customize it to your tastes. Imagine being able to find something customized with a designer label on! This is something that is only possible in the world of imitation bags. Hence, with some effort and hard shopping, you can perhaps find the kind of bag that you would like and is suited for your tastes.
So to buy what is affordable is much more rational for people and is also beneficial for managing the financial problem of people. Therefore, I recommend those who love designer handbags to buy the affordable designer replica handbags.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Beauty of Charm Bracelet Jewellery
No women don’t like to wear Jewellery, so is bracelets . You can see many people who wear a bracelet in their wrists. These bracelets make them look beautiful .
Bracelets jewellery has been existing for centuries and the bracelets have not lost their value even today. Bracelets and bangles are still adored by people and especially women love to wear these beautiful bands around their wrists. The jewellery of bracelets is very tempting and every girl loves to have a collection of beautiful and dazzling bracelets. One of the hottest trends in bracelets is the amazing charm tiffany bracelet. Charms and charm bracelets are vogue these days and they are so tempting that no girl can resist buying them.
The charms of tiffany bracelet are made up of beads and gemstones. Tiffany bracelets have usually round shaped charms. Pandora charm bracelets are one of the finest handmade jewellery. In each bracelet of three threads are used and beads are screwed on these threads. The beads move freely on the threads. Gold and silver is also used for making the lovely tiffany bracelet. People are crazy about the charm tiffany bracelets. Charm bracelets make perfect gift when you want to give someone a token of your love and commitment.
If it is a bracelet with a large gem or semiprecious stone then it's better to wear it above the wrist on the wider part of your arm. You can measure your arm too and it should be equal to the bracelet size (don't forget about the previous rule if there's no clasp). The bracelet size will be a little larger than your wrist size and you'll obtain a snug fit placing it upper on your arm. It is much better than to leave such a heavy bracelet dangling on your hand.
Bracelets jewellery has been existing for centuries and the bracelets have not lost their value even today. Bracelets and bangles are still adored by people and especially women love to wear these beautiful bands around their wrists. The jewellery of bracelets is very tempting and every girl loves to have a collection of beautiful and dazzling bracelets. One of the hottest trends in bracelets is the amazing charm tiffany bracelet. Charms and charm bracelets are vogue these days and they are so tempting that no girl can resist buying them.
The charms of tiffany bracelet are made up of beads and gemstones. Tiffany bracelets have usually round shaped charms. Pandora charm bracelets are one of the finest handmade jewellery. In each bracelet of three threads are used and beads are screwed on these threads. The beads move freely on the threads. Gold and silver is also used for making the lovely tiffany bracelet. People are crazy about the charm tiffany bracelets. Charm bracelets make perfect gift when you want to give someone a token of your love and commitment.
If it is a bracelet with a large gem or semiprecious stone then it's better to wear it above the wrist on the wider part of your arm. You can measure your arm too and it should be equal to the bracelet size (don't forget about the previous rule if there's no clasp). The bracelet size will be a little larger than your wrist size and you'll obtain a snug fit placing it upper on your arm. It is much better than to leave such a heavy bracelet dangling on your hand.
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