Marine Science Faculty Publications
Invisible Oil Beyond the Deepwater Horizon Satellite Footprint
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2020
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw8863
Abstract
Major oil spills are catastrophic events that immensely affect the environment and society, yet determining their spatial extent is a highly complex task. During the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout, ~149,000 km2 of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) was covered by oil slicks and vast areas of the Gulf were closed for fishing. Yet, the satellite footprint does not necessarily capture the entire oil spill extent. Here, we use in situ observations and oil spill transport modeling to examine the full extent of the DWH spill, focusing on toxic-to-biota (i.e., marine organisms) oil concentration ranges. We demonstrate that large areas of the GoM were exposed to invisible and toxic oil that extended beyond the boundaries of the satellite footprint and the fishery closures. With a global increase in petroleum production–related activities, a careful assessment of oil spills’ full extent is necessary to maximize environmental and public safety.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Science Advances, v. 6, issue 7, art. eaaw8863
Scholar Commons Citation
Berenshtein, Igal; Paris, Claire B.; Perlin, Natalie; Alloy, Matthew M.; Joye, Samantha B.; and Murawski, Steven, "Invisible Oil Beyond the Deepwater Horizon Satellite Footprint" (2020). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2122.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2122
