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Cuba at Risk: BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - June 7, 2010 Update
Cuba at Risk: BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Latest Summary Posted: 7-June-2010
Visit this page for current information on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill?s potential impacts on Cuba. More detailed information, including technical reports and satellite imagery can be found here.
Summary: On June 3rd the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) released the results of its Gulf oil spill modeling efforts. The model incorporates 6 basic scenarios and all agree that the spill will impact the northern coast of Cuba. The range of estimates for when the bulk of oil will reach Cuban shores ranges from present day to early August. The worst scenario for Cuba shows impacts along nearly the entire northern coastline, not just northwestern Cuba. (Note: Roffer?s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service has discontinued its daily updates. Please see their site for additional information. We are now posting NOAA 72-hour forecast maps.)
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
The latest modeling results from NCAR show impacts on Cuba a virtual certainty
Deepwater Horizon 72Hr Offshore Trajectory Map (NOAA)
Background
Area of collaborative research in Cuba's coral-rich Gulf of Mexico waters
For the past decade we have been working with our colleagues at the University of Havana?s Center for Marine Research (Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, CIM) to conduct research and conservation projects in Cuba?s coastal areas. Since 2002, our work has focused in Cuba?s Gulf of Mexico waters where CIM has been conducting the first-ever comprehensive studies of this little-known area. What we are learning is that this region is incredibly rich with healthy corals, fish and serves as critical habitat for imperiled species such as sea turtles, manatees and sharks.
The BP Deepwater Horizon platform in flames. The resulting massive spill threatens Cuba's marine life and habitat. (AP Photo)
The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from the BP Deepwater Horizon presents a potentially grave and unprecedented threat to Cuba?s marine life and coastal areas. Not only would this be devastating to Cuba?s marine life, but given the biological connections present in the Gulf of Mexico, such an impact could affect a myriad of species, including fish, sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, sharks, corals inhabiting the waters of the U.S., Mexico and beyond.
The Gulf of Mexico "Loop Current" could transport oil into Cuban waters (Illustration courtesy of NOAA)
The primary risk to Cuba comes from the trajectory of the ?Loop Current,? a prominent but very variable feature of the Gulf of Mexico. Should the oil become swept up by the swift Loop Current, it could end up in Cuban waters within a matter of days, impacting coastal areas still recovering from the impacts of 2008 hurricanes, Gustav and Ike.
In 2007, a tri-national collaboration was formed among the three countries bordering the Gulf of M?xico (Cuba, M?xico and the United States) to elevate collaboration in marine research and conservation to a new level. Sharing of information is central in this collaboration and since the scope of this disaster became evident, our collaboration has mobilized in order to provide our Cuban colleagues with the best information possible in order to plan for potential impacts and deal with them should they occur. A related page on this site has been set up for the purpose of sharing detailed information, including technical reports and satellite imagery and interpretation.
Latest Summary Posted: 7-June-2010
Visit this page for current information on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill?s potential impacts on Cuba. More detailed information, including technical reports and satellite imagery can be found here.
Summary: On June 3rd the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) released the results of its Gulf oil spill modeling efforts. The model incorporates 6 basic scenarios and all agree that the spill will impact the northern coast of Cuba. The range of estimates for when the bulk of oil will reach Cuban shores ranges from present day to early August. The worst scenario for Cuba shows impacts along nearly the entire northern coastline, not just northwestern Cuba. (Note: Roffer?s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service has discontinued its daily updates. Please see their site for additional information. We are now posting NOAA 72-hour forecast maps.)
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
The latest modeling results from NCAR show impacts on Cuba a virtual certainty
Deepwater Horizon 72Hr Offshore Trajectory Map (NOAA)
Background
Area of collaborative research in Cuba's coral-rich Gulf of Mexico waters
For the past decade we have been working with our colleagues at the University of Havana?s Center for Marine Research (Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, CIM) to conduct research and conservation projects in Cuba?s coastal areas. Since 2002, our work has focused in Cuba?s Gulf of Mexico waters where CIM has been conducting the first-ever comprehensive studies of this little-known area. What we are learning is that this region is incredibly rich with healthy corals, fish and serves as critical habitat for imperiled species such as sea turtles, manatees and sharks.
The BP Deepwater Horizon platform in flames. The resulting massive spill threatens Cuba's marine life and habitat. (AP Photo)
The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from the BP Deepwater Horizon presents a potentially grave and unprecedented threat to Cuba?s marine life and coastal areas. Not only would this be devastating to Cuba?s marine life, but given the biological connections present in the Gulf of Mexico, such an impact could affect a myriad of species, including fish, sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, sharks, corals inhabiting the waters of the U.S., Mexico and beyond.
The Gulf of Mexico "Loop Current" could transport oil into Cuban waters (Illustration courtesy of NOAA)
The primary risk to Cuba comes from the trajectory of the ?Loop Current,? a prominent but very variable feature of the Gulf of Mexico. Should the oil become swept up by the swift Loop Current, it could end up in Cuban waters within a matter of days, impacting coastal areas still recovering from the impacts of 2008 hurricanes, Gustav and Ike.
In 2007, a tri-national collaboration was formed among the three countries bordering the Gulf of M?xico (Cuba, M?xico and the United States) to elevate collaboration in marine research and conservation to a new level. Sharing of information is central in this collaboration and since the scope of this disaster became evident, our collaboration has mobilized in order to provide our Cuban colleagues with the best information possible in order to plan for potential impacts and deal with them should they occur. A related page on this site has been set up for the purpose of sharing detailed information, including technical reports and satellite imagery and interpretation.