2010-05-01 CNN
When it comes to the stock market, are you smarter than a first grader? You’d better wait a few minutes before you answer. I’m Carl Azuz. This is CNN Student News.
Authorities around the Gulf of Mexico are in a race against time. They are trying to control an oil spill that’s heading toward the Louisiana Shore. Yesterday, it was about 23 miles off the coast of Louisiana, could reach land by Friday. If that happens, officials say it could create an ecological disaster. This is all from the Deepwater Horizon. That’s the oil rig that sank in the Gulf last week. The company that owns the rig is trying to stop the leak underwater. Meantime, authorities on shore are trying to block the oil from getting to sensitive areas. Reynolds Wolf takes us over the spill to get a closer look.
From the air, the spill appears massive.
'You can definitely see it.‘
'Those are the skimmers and booms trying to recover oil.’
'Even from this height, there’s plenty to see. On the surface, there’s a little bit of a rainbow-like sheen and much of that is going to be burnt away by the sun’s rays. But there’s also a thicker layer of crude oil in places. You know, that’s gonna have to be skimmed away. ’
NOAA scientist Ed Levine says the oil moves with sea currents and winds, both affecting the slick shape and size.
Probably about 97% of the floating oil on the surface is very thin sheen. Sheens, molecules thin, thinner than a coat of paint on the side of your house. The area where the thick oil is is in about that 3% of the surface.
Currently, this slick continues to grow and scientists estimate the well is leaking some 42,000 gallons of oil a day. Failure to contain could be catastrophic to the people, beaches, and business along the gulf coast.
'The thing we are trying to minimize is land impacts, because of the environmental and socio-economic damage that it can do. One of NOAA's concerns is also guaranteeing the safety and security of the sea food that no tainted products get to market.’
'The previous location of Deepwater Horizon is at eleven o’clock.’
And it’s going to take a huge effort, as we fly over the location with Deepwater Horizon was once operational. All that remains is a blanket of oil and boats.
'The number of assets on scene each day increases.’
Working to stop the leak, and what Coast Guard Officials say might become one of the most significant oil spills in US history.
Reynolds Wolf, CNN, over the Gulf of Mexico.