Posted on 01/22/2007 10:56:24 PM PST by neverdem
THE mysterious odor that blanketed Manhattan on Jan. 8 remains, well, a mysterious odor. Last week, officials in New York and New Jersey gave up on finding the source of the smell.
But we haven’t, and we think we can support one of the theories of the odor’s source that has been suggested. Based on our familiarity with the local aquatic environment and regional meteorology, we believe that the odor was caused by gases released from saltwater marshes in the metropolitan area.
Let us explain. The intertidal sediments in this region are home to micro-organisms that produce sulfur compounds. When these sediments interact with saltwater that contains low levels of oxygen, gases are released. These gases include hydrogen sulfide and a variety of thiols (like the gas additives thiophane and mercaptan) — all of which have an odor similar to rotten eggs.
While the release of these gases from marsh sediments occurs more or less continually, we suggest that something out of the ordinary occurred on Jan. 8.
First, there was a low tide in the coastal marshes from roughly 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Second, we experienced winds from the south and an atmospheric inversion, which created something like a low-lying bubble of air.
The result of the two factors? The low tide exposed the marsh sediments and hastened the release of sulfur gases into the atmosphere. The inversion trapped the odor close to the ground and the southerly winds then carried it to Lower Manhattan, where it remained until atmospheric conditions changed.
On what do we base our assumptions?
For starters, independent data and Columbia University instruments on rooftops in Manhattan show a consistent trend in wind speed and direction surrounding New York City. On Jan. 7, the night before the odor was noticed, the dominant winds were...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I wonder what these authors think about more immigration?
Curious odor? Hillary's announcement.
No, the latest fad amoung lierals (HEY, the TRUTH just typo-appeared : drop the b of liberal) : go w/o deodorant, the NATURAL odor of the body is the IN thing now.
The dilemma of a deadly disease: patients may be forcibly detained
XDR-TB in South Africa: No Time for Denial or Complacency I haven't read this PLOS link, but it's readily found after being mentioned in the previous link. My libertarian sympathies should have been noticed, but this public health threat is too great. I'm sorry about that. Civil liberties are one consideration, but with 98% dead in 2 weeks, what the hell are they thinking? South Africa's hesitancy is insane, IMHO.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
As a 747 flew over the city its center fuel tank ruptured?
I live in central Florida near Cape Canaveral and we have the same issue with our saltwater lagoons.
Certain times of the year they stink to high heaven. But it's not mysterious. It's been happening for years.
Is this the first time they've smelled this in NYC?
If this were the issue I have to believe it's been stinking before now.
Just wait... in a couple of years, there will be a group of New Yorkers demanding payments of some sort from "the government" for the health-effects resulting from this incident. Unfortunately, the pay-offs to the 9-11 families have established this kind of stupid victim-mindset and I suspect it is only a matter of time.
It was also unseasonably warm the day this occurred, I think the surprise is that it happened in the winter.
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