Tel: (845) 626-2627   Home   Contact  
Sun Volt

Sun Volt Solar

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

It’s raining oil, and that is not a good thing

23 Jun 10 | Environment

I am still at wonder with the oil leak (spill?) in the gulf.  The latest thing is this video from New Orleans showing and oily sheen on pavement after a rain storm:

The camera operator seems to think it is coming from the rain, it may be, it may not be.  According to NOAA:

National Weather Service Science and Operations Officer Charlie Paxton says while it’s always possible a water spout could pick up some oil and carry it a short distance, the notion of black rain is just not possible. Paxton says that’s because oil does not evaporate. As a result, talk of black rain is just a myth.

Alright, black rain, myth, I’ll buy that, but crude oil does evaporate, even at low vapor pressures found on the surface of the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico. I don’t know the chemical composition of the crude bubbling out of the broken well head in the gulf, but if it is similar to other gulf crude, then it has a lot of VOC’s mixed in with heavier components. Sunlight shining on a patch of brown crude sludge floating on the surface would more than likely raise the vapor pressure high enough to cause it to evaporate. Based on what I learned in chemistry 101, it would be a safe bet to say that 10-20% percent of the surface oil will evaporate.

It is also not at all a stretch to say that those compounds could condense with the low temperatures at high altitude, the same way water vapor does.  So, while black rain might not be possible, light brown or clear oil rain is possible.  What is not clear in this video is whether or not this is spilled oil seeping up through the pavement and washing away, or if it is light oil coming down with the rain.

Tags: , ,

23 Jun 10 | Environment
«
»


Reader's Comments

  1. Tweets that mention Sun Volt Solar » Blog Archive » It’s raining oil, and that is not a good thing -- Topsy.com | June 23rd, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alternative Energy, Amelia Timbers. Amelia Timbers said: RT @AltEnergyWebPar: sun-volt.com: It’s raining oil, and that is not a good thing http://bit.ly/bEioSZ Full http://bit.ly/d0zcWX [...]



Leave a Reply