October 1, 2019 – Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

Oil contamination at Pensacola Beach, Florida. Left: Oil-coated sand grains blown across the beach by Hurricane Alex (June 20, 2010). Middle: Large sediment-oil agglomerates buried in the beach (June 30, 2010). Right: The oil-contaminated sand layer reached 70 cm thickness. (Photos by Markus Huettel).

Studies Shows Beach Environment Enhanced Oil Degradation, But Still May Take 30 Years

October 1, 2019

Researchers at Florida State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology analyzed degradation processes of oil that was deposited along Gulf of Mexico beaches following Deepwater Horizon.