Could Oil from the Gulf of Mexico Be Causing Oily Residue on Windows in the UK?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the presence of an oily residue on windows in the U.K. following strong winds, with participants exploring potential causes, including the influence of Hurricane Tomas and oil from the Gulf of Mexico. The scope includes speculative reasoning about atmospheric transport of oil, local industrial sources, and the behavior of oil in the environment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the oily residue could be related to Hurricane Tomas lifting oil from the Gulf of Mexico and transporting it via the Gulf Stream.
  • Another participant argues against the possibility of oil carrying well in the atmosphere, stating that it would become too dilute to affect windows noticeably.
  • A different participant expresses skepticism about the BP oil spill being the source, noting that the heat of the Gulf Stream would likely evaporate volatile components, leaving behind heavier residues.
  • Some participants propose that local industrial sources might be responsible for the oily residue, with one suggesting that diesel engines produce microdroplets that could coat surfaces.
  • Questions are raised about the potential for micelle encapsulations of lighter fractions of crude oil to evaporate from the ocean's surface, with mixed responses regarding their likelihood.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the source of the residue and suggests it may remain unexplained.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the source of the oily residue, with some proposing atmospheric transport from the Gulf of Mexico and others suggesting local industrial sources. There is no consensus on the cause, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their understanding of the physical processes involved, and there are unresolved questions regarding the behavior of oil and surfactants in the environment.

scupydog
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After some very strong winds last night here, in the U.K. There is an oily type residue which is visible on external glass surfaces ie windscreens. This effect has happened over a 25 mile radius as i know off. Could this be any thing to with hurricane tomas, lifting oil from the surface in the gulf of Mexico and it some how made its way to the U.K. (via the gulf stream... maybe).
 
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Absolutely not. Oil would not carry well in the atmosphere, and even if it did---it would certainly become far too dilute to make a noticeably effect on your window.
 
scupydog said:
After some very strong winds last night here, in the U.K. There is an oily type residue which is visible on external glass surfaces ie windscreens. This effect has happened over a 25 mile radius as i know off. Could this be any thing to with hurricane tomas, lifting oil from the surface in the gulf of Mexico and it some how made its way to the U.K. (via the gulf stream... maybe).

I think it is unlikely to be from the BP spill. The heat of the Gulf Stream would have evaporated off the more volatile components of the oil, leaving clumps of what would appear to be a lot like asphalt. The farther north it moves into the north Atlantic the less likely it is that something is going to evaporate from the surface.

It may be that wind-whipped particles of oil-water mixture were blown into the atmosphere by a storm, however, if it was lifted locally from the Gulf Stream in your area. Any water Tomas picked up in the Gulf would have rained out long before reaching your town. The droplets would be very thick when they dried out on your window. If it is still clearly a liquid then it must be from something else (and is probably from something else anyway).

But all of this is based on my basic understanding of physics. An expert might know something better.
 
Thx for your answers, I'm still trying to find out what it was from searching the web.

It might have to have it shifted into the unexplained file..
 
I would look for a closer industrial source.
 
I am guessing it's too late to take a sample huh?
 
Hmmm...

Are micelle encapsulations of lighter fractions of crude oil capable of undergoing evaporation from the surface of the ocean ? Something I was curious about too.
 
scupydog said:
After some very strong winds last night here, in the U.K. There is an oily type residue which is visible on external glass surfaces ie windscreens.

Diesel engines produce microdroplets of unburned fuel. These coat many surfaces in urban areas. I can't think why they would be exacerbated by strong winds, however. I tend to go along with Hypatia, and think some local industrial source might be the culprit.
 
Isaacsname said:
Are micelle encapsulations of lighter fractions of crude oil capable of undergoing evaporation from the surface of the ocean ? Something I was curious about too.

Unlikely. Way too heavy.
 
  • #10
Borek said:
Unlikely. Way too heavy.

Thanks, it was my suspicion that it was not impossible, just highly improbable for that reason.

Borek, do you have any good ideas why the surfactant in the Gulf is lasting so long ?

I spent the past summer trying to cram multiphase fluid dynamics in an attempt to understand what was going on at the Horizon wellhead. What I was able to discern ( probably wrong ) was that cavitation increases the likelyhood of emulsion stabilities where surfactants are added into the process, something about Zeta potentials ( please correct me if wrong ).

Were you following that story at all ?

Thanks,

Isaac
 

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