In another brilliant work by fishgrease he explains the extent of the underwater spread of oil, how dispersants affect the clean-up process, algal blooms and oil-metabolizing microörganisms, and how the society and culture of the region will be affected in years to come by the lava lamp effect.

In the comments, the futility of the knowledgable "boomers" is mentioned in contrast with the lack of interest on the part of the people leading the efforts. The rate of the leak and the abject desparation of the "Top Kill" is also presented, with a top rate of 8,000 gallons per day mentioned, and later the flow rate calculation methodology questioned. The 8,000 gallons per day figure was calculated using pressure measured below the kink in the pipe, and there is no way to correlate that with the pressure above the pipe without direct measurement, so until that measurement is made other means will have to suffice. In another sub-thread discussing that figure, the hiding effect dispersants have is presented.