Follow up to postings on the Gulf Coast oil spill, this news release: “NOAA’s independent analysis of water samples provided from the May 22-28 research mission of the University of South Florida’s R/V Weatherbird II confirmed the presence of very low concentrations of sub-surface oil and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) at sampling depths ranging from 50 meters to 1,400 meters. The Weatherbird II samples came from three stations: 40 and 42 nautical miles to the northeast of the well head and 142 nautical miles southeast of the well head (see chart). NOAA’s analysis of the presence of subsurface oil determined that the concentration of hydrocarbons is in the range of less than 0.5 parts per million, and PAH levels in range of parts per trillion. NOAA announced its analysis in conjunction with the University of South Florida today.”