Could the oil spill be responsible for the heat wave?

[E-Z-B]

We've already had a number of 90+ days in the Philadelphia region since the oil spill happened. We don't typically get this hot for so long this early. Since the oil is dark, could it be absorbing more energy from the sun, disturbing the weather patterns?

[hobbit709]

1. No!

[DrDan]

2. don't think so . . . this heat starts to the west of the spill and moves east

[Donnachaidh]

3. no - more likely global warming.

And we've had the heat longer than you, but with the hurricane in the gulf, the weathercasters are forecasting milder temps. And those milder temps will be heading your way soon.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Doubtful

If it were, we'd be hearing about it. While the slick is huge it's still a small portion of this large body of water. There may be a "benefit" of the warm weather helping to disipate the oil quicker but there's little data to support that. While the east and south are having hot summers, the west, especially northwest is cool and the Midwest is around average (and this area usually gets the biggest blasts of Gulf air). It's definitely been a warmer than average year and that could spell a very dangerous and active hurricane season, but that was predicted before the gusher occured. Blame "La Nina" in the Pacific...

[EstimatedProphet]

5. No. Next question.

[HillbillyBob]

6. I don't think so ..if it were burning maybe would up the temp near the

Gulf Coast.
Here in NC we have had over 90 degree days for 2 weeks ..this is early and it about 10 15 over normal several days it was 98..and I don't have working ac.
The locak weather guy mentioned how many days ,,but I was in the kitchen and could not quite here. I think it was 12 days. It is supposed to drop into the 80s tomorrow.

[Gman]

7. No

Last summer we had the hottest summer in 50 years with 70+ days of 100+ weather. But their was no oil.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

8. probably not directly - but the oil industry itself is probably the primary cause of climate change

not only the burning of fossil fuels but the drilling and processing of them... the crude oil itself - in the Gulf of Mexico gusher contains about 40 percent methane. Here is a good article on how the oil industry and methane contribute to Climate Change http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0620-kozloff_methane.html