Summer 2010

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The Horizon has been defeated

Disaster is striking yet again. The world's attention is focused on the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as the ominous impacts roll inexorably forward. In San Francisco Bay we have seen the impacts of large quantities of oil spilled recently when the 2006 Cosco Busan crashed into the Bay Bridge. But this was only about 1/200th the size of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Significant amounts of that oil are still present in the coastal sands of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The Deepwater Horizon spill currently devestating the Gulf of Mexico is thought to already be significantly larger than the Exxon Valdez spill, and there is still no end in sight. The scale of this spill is unprecedented, and it hurts to simply contemplate the range of realized and potential impacts. Already hundreds of miles of marshlands in the Mississippi Delta are blighted. The economies of the coasts, already limping from Katrina, now face another terrible blow. And in addition to the wildlife that can be captured and rescued, there is always a the terrible loss of life for those we can not save, or even see: the countless fish, invertebrates and even plankton that float near the sunny surface along with the oil – the energy engine for oceans ecology.

Jack Johnson's song, "Horizon has been defeated"

Much of the oil is thought to be sub-surface due in part to the large-scale addition of dispersants. Yet out of sight does not mean the oil is less deadly to the oceans or our coasts. The spill is harder to track because of the three-dimensionality of the spill – so instead of a ‘slick’ we now have to consider oily ‘clouds’ swept along by the swirling Gulf currents. The toxic water has already reached Florida’s coast, and thefore poses a grave risk to the state's everglades, coral reefs, beaches and is likely to be swept around the tip into the Gulf Stream and up the Eastern seaboard.

As disastrous as this situation truly is, we need to remember that this only represents one type of threat to the oceans posed by oil. 80% of the oil that enters the marine environment each year as a result of human activities is NOT from big oil spills. Most runs down the drains from used engine oil, municipal and industrial processes. General ship operations such as cleaning and inefficient engines spill thousands of times, totaling over 100 million gallons a year. Air pollution from cars and industry also add a similar quantity of hydrocarbons to the world’s oceans every year as well. Each of these sources dwarf natural seepages of oil from the ocean bottoms.

So what then must we do? It is natural to want to point the blame somewhere. However there is probably enough culpability to go around, and it is always more empowering to consider what we can change. And you can always change yourself, and then work on the people and world around you. One big root of this problem is our insatiable appetite for oil. Ours is the most energy-hungry civilization on Earth, and it is having many serious impacts on the world around us, and obviously now closer to home as well. We hope for a quick and seamless transition to renewable energies, but it will not happen without wide-scale public introspection and action.

Some resources for education & empowerment:

Central repository for news and planning for Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean up efforts.
NOAA's Office of Response & Restoration
	Save Our Gulf
International Bird Rescue and Research Center
	Carbon Footprint Calculators:	The Nature Conservancy
		US Environmental Protection Agency
		Global Footprint Network
	Volunteer Coordinating Parties:	Gulf of Mexico Sea Grants
		The Gulf Restoration Network
		National Audubon Society
		The Sierra Club
	a SCUBA divers perspective: s	The New York Times

More great Teaching Resources about the spill from the National Environmental Education Foundation:

Teaching About the Gulf Oil Spill

The Bridge Ocean Science Education Blog The Bridge Ocean Science Education Blog was created by the Bridge, a website providing free marine education resources, and the National Marine Educators Association. The blog provides a forum for educators to discuss topics related to ocean science and ocean science education. Included is a special section dedicated to the Gulf Oil Spill. Learn more

American Bird Conservancy: Impacts of Oil Spill The American Bird Conservancy (ABC), an organization dedicated to conserving native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas, has created a page dedicated to providing the public with information on the impacts the Gulf Oil Spill will have on birds. In addition to general information, ABC provides the latest updates on how birds and bird habitat will be affected as well as suggestions for how the public can become involved in the clean-up and wildlife rescue operations. Learn more

Eco-Schools USA Special Report: Oil Spill

Eco-Schools, a program of the National Wildlife Federation, created a special report on the Gulf Oil Spill designed to give teachers and students information and resources to help them better understand the spill and its ramifications. Included are questions that kids have been asking the experts as well as information on helping wildlife and the importance of wetlands. Learn more

Gulf of Mexico Alliance Environmental Education Network  The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Environmental Education Network (GOMAEEN), an organization that provides resources for educators in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, is providing links to relevant news stories and updating their list as new developments related to the Gulf Oil Spill merit. GOMAEEN also provides links to several lesson plans regarding oil spills in their Educator Resources section. Learn more

Encyclopedia of Earth: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill The Encyclopedia of Earth (EoE) is a free, searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators and experts on the Earth, its environments and their interaction with society. The EoE's extensive article on the Gulf Oil Spill includes information on the magnitude and extent of the spill, clean up efforts and ecological impacts as well as a review of past disasters. Learn more

NOAA Office of Response and Restoration NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration provides scientific support for oil and chemical spill responses as well as damage assessments in coastal waters. In addition, NOAA is currently providing the latest news relating to the Gulf Oil Spill as well as fact sheets, publications and visuals. Learn more

Oil on the Water: The Physics of Oil Spills This interactive feature on MSNBC's website provides an overview of the physics behind an oil spill. The feature illustrates the physical and chemical processes, known as weathering, that change the oil's properties and behavior after it is spilled into the ocean. Learn more

Experiment to Clean Up an Oil Spill This experiment, created by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, is designed to give kids an idea of what it might be like to clean up an oil spill and why the task is so difficult. Using environmentally-friendly household materials, the experiment guides students through the steps of creating an oil spill and then trying to clean it. A series of observational questions are posed. Learn more

The Smithsonian Institution: The Ocean Portal The Ocean Portal, developed by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is an interactive website that inspires awareness, understanding and stewardship of the world's oceans. Included in the myriad resources provided here is a blog that highlights the unseen impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill, as well as a Spotlight on Science Feature, ocean news and resources for educators. Learn more