2. Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill (BP) Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, April 20 th 2010. Largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry 11 men killed and 17 others injured About 4.9 million barrels were released of crude oil

3. Ecosystem Damage Devastating effects on animal life Top of the food chain What about the base of the food chain? Plankton are at the bottom of the food chain Population Dynamics Biomagnification

4. How are plankton affected by this oil spill? Phytoplankton biomass Chlorophyll a concentration as indicator of phytoplankton biomass Concentrations reflect the effect the spill has on population dynamics

5. GIS Oil spill data from NOAA Chlorophyll a concentration data from NASA Bayesian Kriging Interpolation Oil spill lasted ~3 months, data covers four points in time Concentration: 0-65 mg/m 3 Concentration Growth/Biomass

6. Oil Spill Area

7. Before Spill March 30th

8. Before Spill April 15th

9. After Spill May 1

10. After Spill May 17

11. BEFORE THE SPILL AFTER THE SPILL Comparison

12. Future Work Look at shorter periods of data Look at other potential causes: seasons, salinity, weather conditions Compare to other years