GoMRI eNews · Jan 26, 2016 · ← All issues

Keeping you current on emerging Gulf science and the people investigating the effects of oil spills on the environment and public health.

January 26, 2016                                                                    GoMRI eNews

Stories

Study: Oil May Have Diminished and Altered Phytoplankton Communities

Scientists compared phytoplankton time-series data collected in Louisiana coastal waters after the Deepwater Horizon spill. They found that phytoplankton abundance was significantly lower in 2010 and that the community’s species composition significantly shifted immediately after the spill.

Understanding Coastal Ecosystems Response to Environmental Stress

ACER investigates biodiversity’s role in oil spill recovery - Disturbances to coastal environments, such as storms and pollution, cause great concern as these areas are typically heavily populated, are home to important industries, and provide critical ecosystem services. Ecologists have debated coastal ecosystems response to disturbances for decades.

Smithsonian Highlights How Scientists Use Genomics to Study Oil Spills

Genomics is a powerful method to track things that humans cannot see. Months and years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, many people wondered where the oil went or where it might be lingering or what it may affect after it was no longer visible. Scientists are using genomic techniques such as DNA sequencing to help answer some of these questions.

From the Archives

Grad Student Tominack Answers “What is Normal?” for Gulf’s Smallest Organisms

Posted on January 22, 2015
To show how the Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted the Gulf of Mexico, Sarah Tominack is going back to basics.

Study Confirms Methane-Eating Bacteria Contributed to Carbon Entering Food Web

Posted on January 14, 2014
Scientists confirmed that methane-derived carbon, likely from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill entered the food web via small particles through a pathway known as methanotrophy.

Can an Oil Spill Make Your Genes Fat?

Posted on January 14, 2013
Obesity and other metabolic diseases are major global health issues that are generally thought to be determined by family genes.

Publications
Study Shows Drifter and Satellite Data Improve Ocean Transport Predictions
Improved surface velocity and trajectory estimates in the Gulf of Mexico from blended satellite altimetry and drifter data. Berta, M.; Griffa, A.; Magaldi, M.G.; Ozgokmen, T.M.; Poje, A.C.; Haza, A.C.; Olascoaga, M.J. Journal of  Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 2015, 32, 1880–1901

Study Describes Method to Reduce Noise on Infrared Imagery of Oil Slicks
Extracting oil slick features from VIIRS nighttime imagery using a Gaussian filter and morphological constraints. Wang, M.; Hu, C. Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, 2015, 12, 10, 2051 - 2055

Announcements
  • On site registration is available at the conference. Contact the hotel directly here to book a room.
  • The conference Online Program and Planner are now available. Search through over 500 abstracts and plan the presentations you want to attend.
  • The conference Mobile App is now available.  The app and online planner are synced so you can manage your activities on your smartphone or tablet.
  • The Sharing Oil Spill Science with Non-Scientists: Effectively Communicating Complex Research Results through Outreach and Education Programs workshop agenda has been posted.  Monday, February 1, 12:30pm – 5:15pm (Grand Salon I). 
  • Stay informed of conference updates on Twitter (#gulfscienceconference #OneGulf) and Facebook.
 
The 22 recently-awarded projects for 2016-2018 each have their own page with project description and lists of affiliated people and institutions.
 

Project Activities
ECOGIG Researcher Discusses California Gas Leak on Public Radio Podcast
Jeff Chanton recently appeared on Minnesota Public Radio’s Climate Cast podcast to talk about the ongoing Aliso Canyon methane gas leak and why methane is so destructive. You can listen to the full interview here under the heading “Climate Cast; Methane leak causes state of emergency in California.”
 
ACER Launches “Word Wednesday” Series
Readers can now find updated to the consortium website each Wednesday discussing the meaning behind various terms and concepts that are important to ACER research. The first and most recent post focuses on the words “diversity” and “resilience.”
 
CARTHE Blogs Document Researchers’ At-Sea Lifestyle
Graduate student Nathan Laxague’s recent posts to the CARTHE blog describe the methods, experiences, and challenges of researchers working on the ongoing LASER expedition. You can read his entries here and here to keep up with the project’s development.
 
Meet C-IMAGE Student of the Month Inok Jun
Jun is a Ph.D. student who uses numerical models to better understand and predict the behavior of petroleum fluids in the ocean. Check out her feature to learn more about her research and what inspired her to study oil.
 
DEEPEND Announces Creep into the DEEPEND Summer Camps
The camps target Kindergarten to 6th grade students and will take place this summer at museums and science centers across the country. Campers will meet DEEPEND researchers, engage in science-oriented crafts and games, and much more! Details on camp locations and registration are coming soon.
 
CONCORDE Blog Informs Readers on Glider Research
An update to the Concordia blog documents the latest deployment of the RU31 glider. Researchers Travis Miles and Oscar Schofield used the glider to document temperature, salinity, colored dissolved organic matter, density, chlorophyll, and oxygen saturation.
 
Get to Know CWC’s Chuck Wall
Wall compares oiled and unoiled marsh shorelines to identify differences in the abundance and distribution of benthic organisms such as worms, snails, mussels, and small crustaceans. Learn more about his research and scientific journey in this CWC Scientist Spotlight.
 
RECOVER Hosts Swim Performance and Behavior Course
The short hands-on course offered American and Canadian students first-hand experience working with leading experts and taught them how to measure fishes’ swim performance and behavior.