A year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, a shrimp boat trawls near healthy marsh, bayous and waterways east of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River near Morgan City, Louisiana, one of the US states badly affected by the spill. Photos by Sean Gardner / Reuters
A year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, a shrimp boat trawls near healthy marsh, bayous and waterways east of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River near Morgan City, Louisiana, one of the US states badly affected by the spill. Photos by Sean Gardner / Reuters
A year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, a shrimp boat trawls near healthy marsh, bayous and waterways east of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River near Morgan City, Louisiana, one of the US states badly affected by the spill. Photos by Sean Gardner / Reuters
A year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, a shrimp boat trawls near healthy marsh, bayous and waterways east of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River near Morgan City, Louisiana, one of

Was Deepwater oil spill a drop in the ocean?


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A year on from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - the largest such incident in history - whom do you believe?

Do you side with Kenneth Feinberg, the independent administrator appointed by Barack Obama to deal with compensation claims, who has declared it is "reasonable to conclude" the area will have fully recovered by the end of next year?

Or do you believe the environmental campaigners at Greenpeace, who insist that "damage to the marine ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico will run deep for decades"?

On the first anniversary of the explosion on the BP rig, which last April 20 killed 11 people and began releasing more than four million barrels (600 million litres) of oil into the ocean, the facts seem to be on Mr Feinberg's side.

Fish stocks are at record levels and beaches and wetlands are all open and looking good. While thousands of birds may have perished, prompt action appears to have saved about half of those affected.

And according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the number of marine animals whose bodies show clear evidence of oil contamination amounts to just six dolphins and 18 sea turtles.

But environmentalists insist this apparent evidence against their claims of eco-apocalypse is misleading. They argue that counting visible carcasses radically underestimates the true numbers of animals killed, and that the real damage is far less obvious.

They point to evidence that organisms much further down the food-chain have been badly affected, and say it will be many years before the true extent of the ecological damage reveals itself.

Most scientists would agree it is far too early to give definitive answers. Yet such statements of the obvious are of little use to regulators and oil companies faced with making decisions right now about the lessons to be learnt. What they need is insight into the likely long-term effects.

The obvious place to turn is the outcome of other spillages. And the results are surprising - and salutary.

Until Deepwater Horizon, the worst accidental spillage was the Ixtoc 1 rig blowout of June 1979, in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

As with last year's event, oil continued to gush out of the undersea well for weeks. By the time the well was capped, 3.3 million barrels had been released.

There was huge concern about long-term ecological impact. And small wonder: beaches from Mexico to Texas were blighted by oil slicks and fish, octopus and crustacean catches all nosedived.

But then surprises started to emerge. First, the warmth of the water in the Gulf helped speed the evaporation of the slick, allowing recovery to set in much faster. The fact that the oil released was light crude, with a high content of volatile hydrocarbons, also helped.

Nature's ability to turn even apparent disasters into opportunities began to make itself felt. Oil spillages are not solely the product of humanity's greed for money and motive power: they have taken place in the oceans for hundreds of millions of years, where the earth's crust fractures releasing the hydrocarbons within.

This has led to the emergence of microbes capable of digesting oil and when presented with millions of litres of the stuff, they did not hesitate to gorge themselves.

As for the stocks of fish and other marine life, within two years these were back to record levels. The reason: the temporary ban on landing catch from the area had given them respite from relentless fishing.

To this day, there is no evidence that the huge ecological disaster predicted for the Gulf following the Ixtoc 1 spillage ever materialised. Some argue this may simply be because studies were discontinued too early.

But with environmentalists keen to seize on any evidence to back their claims, it is hard to believe that some huge eco-apocalypse has gone unnoticed.

Now, 30 years on, environmentalists are reprising their message, this time predicting massive long-term damage from the Deepwater spillage. Yet the parallels with the Ixtoc 1 event suggest that, once again, their fears will be misplaced.

The warm waters of the Gulf again helped accelerate the break-up of the slick, while the oil-eating microbes did their bit - even at the far greater depth of the Deepwater well.

Studies by US scientists found the bugs made short work of a vast plume of oil rising up, multiplying so rapidly that after two weeks it no longer reached the surface.

And, in another repeat of 1979, the fish stocks seem to have taken advantage of the temporary ban on landing catches and replenished themselves.

In short, while it may lack the potency of mathematical proof, past experience suggests that nature is well able to take the Deepwater spillage in its stride.

So was the former BP chief executive Tony Hayward on to something with his vilified claim last year that the spillage was "relatively tiny"?

It is certainly true that while more than half a billion litres is a colossal amount in human terms, it is piffling compared to the millions of billions of litres of seawater into which it spewed.

Ironically, the biggest cause of ecological damage could prove to be the man-made chemicals used to disperse the oil.

The rush to give nature a "helping hand" to avert ecological disasters has a sorry history. Detergents used to help wildlife cope with the notorious Torrey Canyon supertanker spillage off south-west England in 1967 proved toxic, while the hot water blasting methods used to clean up the slick left by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska left the coastline looking pristine - but sent oil down into areas previously untouched, increasing the area affected.

In the case of Deepwater Horizon, almost 3 million litres of dispersants were used, and studies suggest they lingered for months in the cold, dark depths of the ocean. The intent may have been right, but the consequences are, as yet, unknown.

Even if the long-term effects do prove to be minor, no one could argue that oil spillages no longer pose an ecological threat.

It is clear that when it comes to recovery, the Gulf of Mexico has unusual characteristics that could not be counted on elsewhere. But it is also clear that environmentalists need to tone down their apocalyptic rhetoric, lest they prompt a rush to cures worse than the ailment.

Robert Matthews is visiting reader in science at Aston University, Birmingham, England.

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km

Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)

On sale: now

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

THE DEALS

Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m

Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m

Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m

Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m

Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m

TOTAL $485m

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

box

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The drill

Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.

Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”

Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”

Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.” 

Neymar's bio

Total club appearances 411

Total goals scored 241

Appearances for Barca 186

Goals scored for Barca 105

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)

Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20profile
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TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
%3Cp%3EDisplay%3A%2040mm%2C%20324%20x%20394%3B%2044mm%2C%20368%20x%20448%3B%20Retina%20LTPO%20OLED%2C%20up%20to%201000%20nits%3B%20Ion-X%20glass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProcessor%3A%20Apple%20S8%2C%20W3%20wireless%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECapacity%3A%2032GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMemory%3A%201GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPlatform%3A%20watchOS%209%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EHealth%20metrics%3A%202nd-gen%20heart%20rate%20sensor%2C%20workouts%2C%20fall%2Fcrash%20detection%3B%20emergency%20SOS%2C%20international%20emergency%20calling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EConnectivity%3A%20GPS%2FGPS%20%2B%20cellular%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20LTE%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDurability%3A%20Water%20resistant%20up%20to%2050m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%20269mAh%20Li-ion%2C%20up%20to%2018h%2C%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECards%3A%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFinishes%3A%20Aluminium%3B%20midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%20Watch%20SE%2C%20magnetic-to-USB-C%20charging%20cable%2C%20band%2Floop%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPrice%3A%20Starts%20at%20Dh999%20(40mm)%20%2F%201%2C119%20(44mm)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg

Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight (Wednesday), BeIN Sports

Match info:

Burnley 0

Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')

Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)

Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

Players Selected for La Liga Trials

U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian

Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco

Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French

Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian

U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)