Credits: CPALMS.ORG
A Hands-On Activity for Children Ages 4-14
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion ultimately led to upwards of 5 million barrels (386 Olympic-size swimming pools) of oil saturating the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. This event threatened 8 national parks and 400 species and heavily impacted the economic well being of Gulf States. Cleanup of the spill proved to be a challenge as oil both spread on the surface and settled to the seafloor. Several different products were used, including oil containment booms (temporary floating barriers to contain an oil spill), the dispersant Corexit™, and various natural and synthetic absorbents.