Click Image for Factsheet PDF…
When oil spills occur, one of the first questions is “Where will the oil go?” Pollutants, such as oil, float on the surface and move through and along with the water. Computer models are tools that help predict the path of pollutants. They help minimize oil spill impacts by estimating the landfall and movement of oil. Plans for protecting the environment, society, and the economy require reliable forecasts that predict where oil will spread in the event of a spill.
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill was the largest spill in U.S. history. About 172 million gallons of crude oil entered the Gulf of Mexico waters, causing an unprecedented threat to marine life and the environment. Determining the spill’s potential impacts and planning response strategies required getting information unique to the situation because no two oil spills are alike. Each spill occurs in a different location under different circumstances. The type and amount of oil, the proximity of oil to sensitive resources, the season, the weather, and the water currents all combine to make each spill a unique event. Click the link below for more info…
This work was made possible in part by a grant from The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, and in part by the Sea Grant programs of Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi-Alabama. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.