The Deep Water Horizon (DWH) oil spill took place in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) in 2010. Over 700 million liters of oil spilled into the NGoM in the 87 days the well head was actively leaking. Samples were taken from sites annually to semi-annually from 2010-2022 to provide a spatial and temporal baseline for the NGoM. Baseline data provides a measure of the health of the marine environment and allows for quantitative assessment of impact and response in the case of future oil spills.  Benthic foraminifera, which are single celled, primarily calcareous organisms that inhabit the seafloor have proven to be excellent indicators and records of ecological change.  Seafloor sediment cores were most recently collected in 2022 at specific time series sites in the NGoM as a part of the Scientist At Sea program.  The sediment cores were subsampled at 2 mm increments. Benthic foraminifera species, Cibicidoides Pachyderma and Wullerstorfi, were isolated for stable isotope (oxygen and carbon) analysis. Once they were cleaned and prepared, the samples were measured using a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (SIRMS). Using the stable carbon isotope records, long-term effects from, and preservation of, oil carbon on the seafloor was assessed. These records will continue to aid in understanding of natural seafloor carbon cycling and also in the event of pollution events such as oil spills.  

For more information: jschell@eckerd.edu

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