While the risk is slim that the oil slick will move up the seaboard enough to get into Canadian waters, it is possible. Currently the spill is being held within the Gulf of Mexico , however, as the spill grows each day it is at bigger risk of being picked up by the . "If oil is swept up into the Loop Current—which moves at about 3.3 to 6.5 feet (one to two meters) a second—there's essentially no way to stop it," Tony Sturges, professor emeritus of oceanography at Florida State University, told National Geographic . "Once [oil] gets into the loop current, you can bet the farm it will go around to the south" After being picked up by the Loop Current, the oil spill could then quickly be carried further by the Gulf Stream , which can travel up to 2.5 metres per second (5.6 mph). This current leads right through some of Canada's best fishing waters, and could potentially even be washed up directly onto the shores of Canada, if not properly contained.
While the risk is slim that the oil slick will move up the seaboard enough to get into Canadian waters, it is possible. Currently the spill is being held within the , however, as the spill grows each day it is at bigger risk of being picked up by the . "If oil is swept up into the Loop Current—which moves at about 3.3 to 6.5 feet (one to two meters) a second—there's essentially no way to stop it," Tony Sturges, professor emeritus of oceanography at , told . "Once [oil] gets into the loop current, you can bet the farm it will go around to the south" After being picked up by the Loop Current, the oil spill could then quickly be carried further by the , which can travel up to 2.5 metres per second (5.6 mph). This current leads right through some of Canada's best fishing waters, and could potentially even be washed up directly onto the shores of Canada, if not properly contained.
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Gulf of Mexico
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Florida State University, told National Geographic
, told
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Gulf Stream