BP
Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill - Lesson Learned
September 4, 2011
On April 20, 2010, an explosion on
the Deepwater Horizon/BP MC252 drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico
caused the rig to sink and killed 11 workers. As a result, oil began
leaking into the Gulf creating the largest spill in American history to
date.
Oiled
turtle is recovered from Gulf of Mexico by NOAA Scientist
Over the course of 87 days an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil were
released into the Gulf. Although research continues to determine the
full extent of the damage, we know that this spill impacted wildlife,
habitats, fishing communities, and commerce along the large coastal
areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and Florida.
Impacts to Wildlife
Sea turtles and marine birds were some of the first wildlife affected by
the oil as they live and feed in the surface areas where floating oil
collects. Marine mammals such as dolphins and whales are other affected
species, as they must come to the surface to breath. Oil accumulated on
the skin of animals can make it difficult to breath and move in the
water. Oiled birds can lose the ability to fly, dive for food, or float
on the water which could lead to drowning. Oil also interferes with the
water repellency of feathers and can cause hypothermia under the right
conditions. Ingested oil can kill animals immediately; more often it
results in lung, liver, and kidney damage which can lead to death.
Extensive efforts to prevent more extensive wildlife impacts, rescue and
rehabilitate oiled animals, and investigate possible long-term effects
of oil exposure are ongoing. (Source: USFWS)
Fisheries
Fish, shrimp, and shellfish are integral to the food web of the Gulf as
well as the economic health of the region. To minimize human exposure to
potentially unsafe seafood from the spill region, more than 80,000
square miles of commercial and recreational fishing grounds were closed
while scientists investigated the impact of the spill and clean-up
efforts on these organisms. After careful research on the presence of
chemical and microbial contaminants in species from all levels of the
food chain, portions of the region deemed safe by FDA and NOAA
scientists were re-opened to fishing. Once again, Gulf fisherman have
access to valuable fishing grounds and consumers and fish sellers are
protected knowing that only safe seafood is entering the marketplace
from this area. Ongoing monitoring continues to insure safety of seafood
and changes in the Gulf habitats. (Source: NOAA Keeping Seafood Safe)
Habitat Impacts
The Gulf of Mexico is a diverse ecosystem incorporating deep-sea ocean
ridges and trenches, mid-depth banks, barrier islands, beaches, and
estuaries. As currents and winds spread the oil from the mile deep spill
site, all habitats of the ecosystem were at risk of contamination.
Estuaries and coral reefs are some of the most sensitive areas in the
impact zone as they provide protection, feeding areas, and nurseries for
a large diversity of species. NOAA has been involved in extensive
research to map and understand this system prior to the spill (See:
Ocean Explorer) and now in the aftermath. This information will be
valuable in calculating the full impact of the spill and the long-term
effects on this rich ecosystem.
Education Connection
The newness of the Deepwater
Horizon/BP spill limits the number of educational products designed to
investigate and teach about impacts to the Gulf ecosystem. Ongoing
efforts are being undertaken to develop lessons, media, and resources
for educators to use in their teaching to help students and the public
to better understand this event. The materials provided with this
collection present the facts surrounding the spill and ongoing research,
monitoring, and restoration efforts. More general education products
from previous spills are provided to help educators present the concepts
of human impacts on the ocean, oil specific impacts, spill clean-up, and
the effects of toxins on natural environments. This site will be updated
periodically as more information becomes available.
Responding
to a Disaster
This
activity was developed specifically to explore the impacts of the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Mobile Bay and the surrounding waters of
the Gulf of Mexico. Students play the role of oil spill response team
members and consider the characteristics of oil spills, path of spilled
oil, potential impact zones, and spill clean-up techniques in planning
their response.
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Oiled
turtle is recovered from Gulf of Mexico by NOAA Scientist