-- was still embedded in the fragile ecosystem, out of the estimated 4.9 million barrels that gushed into the Gulf during the 87 days before the well was capped.

"Much of it is now buried in marine and coastal sediments," MacDonald warned, adding there was "scant evidence for bacterial degradation of this material prior to burial."

LOS ANGELES — A blistering fall heat wave sent temperatures to an all-time record high of 113 degrees in downtown Los Angeles on Monday and roasted even coastal cities in triple digits.

The city of Los Angeles opened cooling centers for citizens while firefighters were on alert for wildfires, but there was little wind amid the onslaught of dry heat.

Downtown hit 113 degrees for a few minutes at about 12:15 p.m., breaking the old all-timerecord of 112 degrees set on June 26, 1990, said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist at the National Weather Service office in Oxnard. Temperature records for downtown date to 1877.

It was not clear whether 113 would remain the day's high. Temperatures continued to fluctuate around 112 later in the afternoon, Seto said. The old record high for a Sept. 27 was 106 degrees.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

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