Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the Changes in the Seasonal Average Concentrations of Nickel, Vanadium, and Lead in Bottom Sediment Retrieved from the Outer Continental Shelf, Gulf of Mexico
Abstract
Sediment samples were collected during the fall of 2010 and 2011from across the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). A Tukey range test was used to compare samples between the relict sand deposits of the northern Gulf OCS to the relict carbonate sediments off of western Florida OCS. Tests indicate that nickel, vanadium, and lead are significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the seasonal average concentrations in the relict sand deposits closer to the Deepwater Horizon Well. These metals also significantly decreased (p < 0.05) from 2010 to 2011 in each region. These changes can be explained by the presence of a new source for these metals in the crude oil released from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill during the spring of 2010. Chromium and thallium did not vary seasonally or between the two areas of the OCS being investigated.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFMOS11D1681S
- Keywords:
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- 4599 OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL General or miscellaneous;
- 4500 OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICAL;
- 4200 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL;
- 4219 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL Continental shelf and slope processes