An exciting aspect of scientific research is unexpected discovery. While investigating impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, scientists made unanticipated, yet fundamentally important, discoveries that shape our understanding of ocean science and Gulf ecosystems.
During the Deepwater Horizon incident, both oil and methane entered the surrounding marine environment from the Macondo reservoir. Scientists are investigating the released methane’s effects on deep-sea ecosystems.
From March-December 2010 during ten research cruises covering over 105,000 square kilometers, scientists documented the fate and dynamics of Deepwater Horizon methane emissions around the blowout site.