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Published Science Highlights
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Science Highlights Archive
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Study Is First to Examine How Oil and Gas Tumbling Inside Pipe Affects Released Oil Estimations
Posted on October 17, 2018Scientists analyzed visual observations and computer simulations of the Deepwater Horizon oil flow to better understand the characteristics of an uncontrolled pipeline flow and how they affect the amount of oil discharge and droplet size distribution, which are critical for effective response decisions. -
Study Offers Recommendations for Developing Successful Scientific Outreach Programs
Posted on October 9, 2018Outreach specialists working with science consortia, funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), reflected on their collective multi-year efforts for insights gained and lessons learned. These reflections resulted in recommendations for creating, managing, and implementing scientific outreach plans. -
Study Shows Oil Exposure Not Likely to Reduce Fish’s Ability to Compensate for Hypoxia
Posted on September 18, 2018Researchers conducted experiments on Atlantic Croaker to determine if oil-induced respiratory impairment affects the fish’s tolerance to hypoxia. There were no observed effects from the combined stressors (oil exposure and hypoxia) on fish’s average critical oxygen threshold levels or its capacity to withstand hypoxia. -
Study Documents How Riverine Fronts Influence Oil Transport Pathways
Posted on September 11, 2018Scientists used drifters, drones, satellite imagery, and air/water measurements to investigate how local and regional ocean processes in the Gulf of Mexico influence where surface oil from the leaking Taylor Energy Site travels. -
Study Finds Sunlight Reduced Dispersant’s Effectiveness During Deepwater Horizon
Posted on September 4, 2018Scientists conducted light-exposure experiments using Macondo oil and Corexit dispersant and ran model simulations to investigate how photo-chemical weathering (oxidation) affects dispersant effectiveness in oil spill response. -
Study Finds Hurricane Isaac Prolonged Oil Spill Impacts on Some Marsh Insects and Spiders
Posted on August 30, 2018Researchers collected and analyzed terrestrial arthropods from Louisiana marshes to determine the combined effects from Deepwater Horizon and Hurricane Isaac on saltmarsh ecosystems. The initial oiling from the spill (2010) followed by the oil’s redistribution during Hurricane Isaac (2012) negatively affected some arthropod groups three-four years after the spill. -
Study Assesses a New Class of Safer, More Effective Dispersants
Posted on August 21, 2018Researchers analyzed an enhanced formulation of a gel-like surfactant encased in a compact buoyant pod for oil spill remediation. -
Study Analyzes How Environmental Disturbances Affect Whale Recovery
Posted on August 14, 2018Researchers modified a matrix population model to include the impact of a disturbance and study the recovery process for large marine mammal populations. They applied the model to identify key components in the recovery process for Gulf of Mexico sperm whales following a disturbance such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. -
Study Finds “Business as Usual” for Hypoxic Zone Following Deepwater Horizon
Posted on July 31, 2018Researchers compared long-term data from low-oxygen (hypoxia) studies to determine if the Deepwater Horizon incident affected the Gulf of Mexico seasonal hypoxic area. -
Study Finds Environmental Factors Influence the Selection of Oil-Degrading Microbes
Posted on July 24, 2018Researchers conducted incubation experiments and examined the roles of temperature, nutrients, and initial bacterial community on oil biodegradation. Higher and lower temperatures yielded distinctly different bacterial community compositions, indicating that temperature is a key influencer of bacteria that respond when oil is present.
