Data collection points, used to track oil, along the Mobile Bay Ship Channel. Figure credit: DISL
During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the potential for oil to be distributed into and around Mobile Bay was unknown. The movement and redistribution of dissolved or very small particles of oil-based substances remained a concern long after the well was capped. Consequently, NGI researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab quickly began sampling the bay to document the presence of oil and to determine what forces affected oil movement in the bay.
Classroom Activity: Oceanography to Limnology
Scientists use a variety of techniques to gather information about aquatic habitats. Whether it be Mobile Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, a creek or pond, scientists use similar methods for analyzing the physical and chemical properties of a body of water. Monitoring water quality is important in determining the health of an ecosystem and for identifying potential problems such as pollution.