Disastrous effects of spill may be hidden in Gulf depths

Researchers see massive oil plumes; Fear impact on spawning season

NEW ORLEANS — Independent scientists and government officials say there is a disaster we can’t see in the Gulf of Mexico’s depths: the potential ruin of a world inhabited by enormous sperm whales and invisible plankton.

Researchers have said they have found at least two massive underwater plumes of what appear to be oil, each hundreds of feet deep and stretching for miles. Yet the chief executive of BP PLC — which has for weeks downplayed several factors, including the amount of oil spewing into the gulf — said there is “no evidence’’ that huge amounts of oil are suspended undersea.

Tony Hayward, BP chief executive, said the oil naturally gravitates to the surface — and any oil below was just making its way up. Researchers, however, say the disaster in waters where light doesn’t shine through could ripple across the food chain.

read more:  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/06/01/disastrous_effects_of_spill_may_be_hidden_in_gulf_depths/

Article of The Boston Globe-Green Blog-By Matthew  Brown -Associated Press