OIL SPILL RECOVERY ACTIVITY:QUANTIFYING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS CLEAN-UP METHODS
Jean R. Anastasia, Ph.D. Biology Department, Suffolk County Community College
Deep Water Horizon/ BP Oil Spill
Oil Spills in the Real World
Deepwater Horizon:Spill Details
http://gulfcoastmaritime.com
Incident Occurred April 20, 2010
Deepwater Horizon:Spill Details
http://gulfcoastmaritime.com
End of Free-Flowing Oiltemporary cap on 7/15/10; completely stopped 9/19/10
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com
Deepwater Horizon:Spill Details
Total Oil Spilled was about 5 million barrels or 210,000,000 gallons (http://www.restorethegulf.gov)
Many endangered or threatened animals live in the oil spill area including sea turtles, beach mice, and marine and shore birds
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill?topic=50364#gen15
April-May June July August September October0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Wildlife Collected (Dead and Alive)
BirdsSea TurtlesMammalsOther Reptiles
Num
ber o
f Ind
ivid
uals
Data taken from Deepwater Horizon Response Consolidated Fish and Wildlife Reports
Melissa Weber, Jacobs, presented at NABT 2010 conference
Deepwater Horizon:Impacts to Wildlife
Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used
Deploying Booms
http://myecoproject.org
Booms
Merriam-Webster Definition• a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill• Types: floating top with a “skirt” that hangs down, sorbent, or fire-retardant
http://uscan.info http://uscan.info
http://uscan.info
Melissa Weber, Jacobs, presented at NABT 2010 conference
Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used
Skimming
http://myecoproject.orghttp://commons.wikimedia.org
Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used
In-Situ Burns
http://myecoproject.orghttp://commons.wikimedia.org
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews
Deepwater Horizon: Clean Up Methods Used
Use of Dispersants
http://myecoproject.orghttp://commons.wikimedia.org
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill?topic=50364#gen15
Deepwater Horizon: Concerns with Clean Up Methods Harm to wildlife during clean-up Sea turtle examples:
Burned during in-situ burns Nests destroyed by machinery used in shoreline clean-up Access to nesting areas limitedby beach clean-up Hatchlings stuck in tire tracks left by equipment Lights used during nighttime clean-up disorient turtles and hatchlings
Unknown impacts of chemical dispersants Over 1.3 million gallons used, largest use ever in a US oil spill
MC252 Planning Environmental Unit, Mobile ICC
http://www.dep.state.fl.us
Simulating Spills and Quantifying Recovery Methods
Oil Spills in the Laboratory
Chinese food take-out containers, plastic food storage containers, etc.Teaches “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
Use Recycled Containers for Your “Ocean Basin”
Makes vegetable oil look more like crude oilMakes it easier for students to see
Color Oil Using Cocoa Powder
Use spoon to simulate skimming clean-up method
Skimming
Have students brainstorm and come up with various materials to absorb the oil. Sawdust is on exampleUseful website: 17 ways to Clean-up an Oil spill (http://www.cnbc.com/id/37593652/17_Ways_To_Clean_Up_The_Gulf_Oil_Spill?slide=1)
Sorbent materials
Use fish tank filter media bags to hold the sorbent material; these are available at any pet store
Pet Hair Booms
Use fuzzy pipe cleaners to simulate the action of booms
Containment Booms
Use liquid dishwashing detergent as a dispersantAdd one drop and have students observe effect. then stirDiscuss surface area and its affect on natural breakdown of oil by bacteria
Dispersants
Use graduated cylinders to measure oil spilled and oil recovered
Quantify Each Clean Up Method
For older students, use computer software to quantify percent coverLike Image J http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/
Quantify Each Clean Up Method
Using Image J
Select
“Run Image J as a Signed Applet”
Using Image J
Or you can download it to your computer
Select
“Download” from the first screen
Using Image J
Select “File” and “open” and use the dialog box to open a digital image of your oil spill
Using Image J
Use the rectangle or polygon selection tool to outline the ocean basin in your picture
Using Image J
Choose “Image”, “Crop” to crop out only the ocean basin in your picture
Using Image J
Select “Image” and “Type” and “8 bit” to convert the image to black and white
Using Image J
Select “Image” and “Adjust” and “Threshold” to highlight only the oil on the surface of the water
A small Threshold dialog box will open
Using Image J
Choose “B&W” from the drop down menu and your oil will appear black
Using Image J
Choose “Analyze” then “Set Measurements”
Using Image J
In the “Set Measurments” dialog box
make sure “Area fraction” and “Limit to threshold” are checked
Then click OK
Using Image J
Choose “Analyze” then “Measure”
Using Image J
A “Results” window will open and give you the percent of the area that is covered by the oil spill
Repeat for picture of basin after oil clean-up to compare
Other Ideas and Tips Have students generate waves to simulate what really
happens in the ocean Compare recovery methods with and without waves
Discuss why reptiles, birds, and mammals are more affected than fish and invertebrates (air-breathers need to surface through the oil slick to breathe)
Bring in feathers and have students pour oil on them Discuss the impact of spills on bird’s feathers and the ability of
birds to keep warm Have students clean the feathers with dish detergent
After lab exercise, dispose of the oil by pouring sawdust on the oil and scooping it out into the garbage (rather than down the drain which can clog up drains after awhile)
Bird Rehabilitation Center
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30317506001?bctid=91041770001
By Charlie Riedel, USA Today http://www.examiner.com