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1. In addition to an industrial operation, an emergency disaster response, and the site of a forensics investigation, the surface of the Gulf of Mexico for miles around the Deepwater Horizon well head is also the focus of intensive scientific research.
(Courtesy of Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 2. A view from space of the Gulf of Mexico on May 19, 2010, showing the spreading oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon beginning to be entrained into the Gulf Loop Current. (Courtesy of NASA) |
3. A composite satellite image from May 2 to 4, 2010, shows the Gulf Loop Current forming from water entering through the Yucatan Strait.
(Courtesy of NASA) |
4. One of the questions yet to be answered is how much oil will make it to the Gulf coast and how it will affect the environment once it is there. WHOI's four-decades of experience studying the ecological impacts of oil in salt marshes will help predict what will happen over the long term to oiled Gulf marshes like those pictured above.
(Courtesy of Chris Reddy, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
5. Andy Bowen and Rich Camilli in the Gulf of Mexico preparing to conduct flow-rate measurements of material leaking from the Deepwater Horizon well head.
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| 6. Camilli and Bowen deployed an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP, green instrument with orange circles) to the seafloor that helped them provide some of the most accurate flow rate measurements at the well head to date. (Courtesy of Richard Camilli, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 7. Sediment trap prepared to deploy in the Gulf of Mexico on June 23. Two sediment traps placed in the Gulf by WHOI Senior Scientist Chris German had been taking samples since September 2009 and were scheduled to make their last measurement on July 2, 2010. A RAPID Response cruise made possible with funding from NSF enabled German to place two more traps in the same locations and continue gathering data. (Courtesy of Tina Thomas, Duke University) |
| 8. WHOI Senior Scientist Cabell Davis (left), with MIT/WHOI Joint Program graduate student Nick Loomis in front of an ROV mounted with their holographic imaging system prepared for deployment on the R/V Jack Fitz. Photo by Yong Kim, Applied Science Associates Inc. (Courtesy of Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 9. Davis and Loomis' holographic imaging system preparing to go into the water above the well leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico. (Courtesy of Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) |
10. Holographic images of oil droplets and a copepod (bottom right) from the Gulf of Mexico.
(Courtesy of Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 11. Working conditions in the Gulf are less than optimal for conducting scientific research. Here, a vessel spraying water attempts to reduce the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. (Courtesy of Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 12. Skimmer vessels collect oil on the surface and move it away from the site over the well head. Once safely out of the way, the material is ignited. (Courtesy of Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) |
| 13. Fresh oil adds a light sheen to the surface of the water in the Gulf. (Courtesy of Bob Nelson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
14. Older or "weathered" oil has lost many of its volatile components and is thicker and heavier.
(Courtesy of Rich Camilli, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
15. Crew members need to spray the surface of the water with soap and water to disperse any oil before recovering instruments in order to avoid contaminating the instruments or the ship.
(Courtesy of Bob Nelson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 16. Crew members in the Gulf periodically need to take extraordinary safety precautions from the hydrocarbon fumes in the air. Here, a boarding party from R/V Endeavor dons respirators prior to moving to the Ocean Intervention III to deploy the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Sentry. From left to right: Sean Sylva (WHOI/NOAA ), Chris Reddy, Rich Camilli, Lt. Jarrett Parker (USCG). (Courtesy of Rich Camilli, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
17. Sentry being prepared for a mission to map the underwater oil plume near the Deepwater Horizon well head.
(Courtesy of Rich Camilli, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) |
| 18. A sample of the oil taken directly from the flow of the Deepwater Horizon well head, still under pressure and containing the original mix of materials flowing into the Gulf, is handed over to WHOI's Bob Nelson by Lt. Jarrett Parker, USCG, on June 24. The official handover was performed to maintain a precise record of chain of custody of the samples in order to permit analysis to be used in any future official investigations. (Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) |
