Isotopic composition of sinking particles: Oil effects, recovery and baselines in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010–2015

Chanton, Jeffrey P.; Giering, Sarah L. C.; Bosman, Samantha; Rogers, Kelsey; Sweet, Julia; Asper, Vernon; Diercks, Arne R.; Passow, Uta

doi:10.1525/elementa.298

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Our data show that the DWH site carried a relatively high load of petrogenic PAHs (compared to our Reference site), likely owing to its close vicinity to the shore and the strong influence by the Mississippi River plume. Comparison of our time series with the sediment trap samples collected during the year following the DWH oil spill (August 2010-October 2011; Yan et al, 2016) suggests that the particle fluxes had not recovered to baseline levels by October 2011 (Chanton et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

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The ecosystem baseline for particle flux in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Giering¹,

Yan

Sweet

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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Response management and damage assessment during and after environmental disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill require an ecological baseline and a solid understanding of the main drivers of the ecosystem. During the DWH event, a large fraction of the spilled oil was transported to depth via sinking marine snow, a routing of spilled oil unexpected to emergency response planners. Because baseline knowledge of particle export in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and how it varies spatially and temporally was limited, we conducted a detailed assessment of the potential drivers of deep (~1400 m depth) particle fluxes during 2012-2016 using sediment traps at three contrasting sites in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: near the DWH site, at an active natural oil seep site, and at a site considered typical for background conditions. The DWH site, located ~70 km from the Mississippi River Delta, showed flux patterns that were strongly linked to the Mississippi nitrogen discharge and an annual subsequent surface bloom. Fluxes carried clear signals of combustion products, which likely originated from pyrogenic sources that were transported offshore via the Mississippi plume. The seep and reference sites were more strongly influenced by the open Gulf of Mexico, did not show a clear seasonal flux pattern, and their overall sedimentation rates were lower than those at the DWH site. At the seep site, based on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon data, we observed indications of three different pathways for "natural" oiled-snow sedimentation: scavenging by sinking particles at depth, weathering at the surface before incorporation into sinking particles, and entry into the food web and subsequent sinking in form of detritus. Overall, sedimentation rates at the three sites were markedly different in quality and quantity owing to varying degrees of riverine and oceanic influences, including natural seepage and contamination by combustion products.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…However, isotope data also suggest that petrocarbon from the spill was still part of the sinking flux (Chanton et al, 2017).…”

Section: Effect Of Seepage On Particle Fluxmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecosystem baseline for particle flux in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Giering¹,

Yan

Sweet

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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“…Oil residues from the DWHOS have persisted in the deep-pelagic habitat of the GoM longer than anticipated. For example, 4-6 years after the DWHOS as found in the water column and in deep-pelagic fishes (Walker et al, 2017;Chanton et al, 2018;Romero et al, 2018). The potential consequences of the DWHOS on deep-pelagic invertebrates are yet to be determined, as exposure to oil-derived toxic compounds has not been previously studied in invertebrates from the pelagic domain of the GoM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Variability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Deep-Sea Cephalopods of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

2020

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“…Stout et al [60] observed considerably less hopane biomarker for DWH oil in surface/near surface sediments collected in 2014 compared to those collected in 2010/2011. Chanton et al [70] observed a recovery in suspended sinking particles three years after the DWH oil spill at sites near the well using Δ 14 C analyses. Rogers et al [71] observed recovery in suspended particulates after four years.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

The southern Gulf of Mexico: A baseline radiocarbon isoscape of surface sediments and isotopic excursions at depth

et al. 2020

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The southern Gulf of Mexico (sGoM) is home to an extensive oil recovery and development infrastructure. In addition, the basin harbors sites of submarine hydrocarbon seepage and receives terrestrial inputs from bordering rivers. We used stable carbon, nitrogen, and radiocarbon analyses of bulk sediment organic matter to define the current baseline isoscapes of surface sediments in the sGoM and determined which factors might influence them. These baseline surface isoscapes will be useful for accessing future environmental impacts. We also examined the region for influence of hydrocarbon deposition in the sedimentary record that might be associated with hydrocarbon recovery, spillage and seepage, as was found in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 2010. In 1979, the sGoM experienced a major oil spill, Ixtoc 1. Surface sediment δ 13 C values ranged from-22.4‰ to-19.9‰, while Δ 14 C values ranged from-337.1‰ to-69.2‰. Sediment δ 15 N values ranged from 2.8‰ to 7.2‰, while the %C on a carbonate-free basis ranged in value of 0.65% to 3.89% and %N ranged in value of 0.09% to 0.49%. Spatial trends for δ 13 C and Δ 14 C were driven by water depth and distance from the coastline, while spatial trends for δ 15 N were driven by location (latitude and longitude). Location and distance from the coastline were significantly correlated with %C and %N. At depth in two of twenty (10%) core profiles, we found negative δ 13 C and Δ 14 C excursions from baseline values in bulk sedimentary organic material, consistent with either oil-residue deposition or terrestrial inputs, but likely the latter. We then used 210 Pb dating on those two profiles to determine the time in which the excursion-containing horizons were deposited. Despite the large spill in 1979, no evidence of hydrocarbon residue remained in the sediments from this specific time period.

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Isotopic composition of sinking particles: Oil effects, recovery and baselines in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010–2015

Cited by 16 publications

References 86 publications

The ecosystem baseline for particle flux in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

The ecosystem baseline for particle flux in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Temporal Variability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Deep-Sea Cephalopods of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

The southern Gulf of Mexico: A baseline radiocarbon isoscape of surface sediments and isotopic excursions at depth

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