UwU
Why are marshes and estuaries the worst places for oil to end up? (both reasons)
They are difficult to clean without killing the marsh grass, and often serve as nurseries
for young animals.
How far down was the oil leak?
5,000 feet
Give 3 examples of animals that were harmed by the oil in the water.
Sea birds/pelicans
Sea Turtles
Dolphins
Give 2 examples of sorbent materials that can absorb the oil.
Peat moss, hay, clay, polypropylene
When was the well officially declared “dead?”
September 21, 2010
When did this oil spill happen?
April 20, 2010
What caused the oil to spread across the water?
wind, waves, and currents
What was one way that people were able to help the birds?
Volunteers cleaned them with soap.
How are the rakes used?
They scrape oil from the beach sand.
How much of the oil is on/buried in the seafloor?
20%
How many barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf?
3.19 million barrels
How big was the area that was covered by oil?
5,000 square miles
What do booms do?
Contain surface oil
How do dispersants work?
They work like soap; cause the oil to break down and mix with water to speed up biodegradation
Why will it take many years to understand how the spill affected the seafloor?
The sea floor is difficult to access and observe.
How many months after the spill was it before oysters were cleared to eat by the FDA?
8 months
List 3 states that were impacted by the oil spill.
Louisiana
Alabama
Florida
What is one problem with burning the oil?
Fire and smoke can be dangerous to human health
What is one problem with using dispersants?
What is one problem with using dispersants?
After how long did oil start washing up on the shore?
30 days
For how long did oil leak before the spill was “capped?”
3 months
How long did the rig burn for before sinking?
More than a day
What do skimmers do?
Once the oil is contained with a boom, skimmers suck it up onto a ship.
What was the unintended (accidental) consequence of diverting fresh water into the coastal waters to keep the oil out of the estuary?
The freshwater killed off oyster beds that depend on salt water for survival.
What part of the oil can actually damage DNA? (full name and abbreviated name)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)