GoMRI eNews · Sep 29, 2020 · ← All issues
Welcome to the GoMRI eNews.

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

September 29, 2020                                                                    GoMRI eNews

Stories

Sea Grant Publication Offers Tips for Effective Academic Engagement with Spill Response Community

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is pleased to announce a new Sea Grant tip sheet that discusses how academic researchers can become more familiar with priority oil spill research needs and with protocols for collecting data during response activities.

State Events to Showcase a Decade of Discovery with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) and the Sea Grant oil spill outreach team are pleased to announce and extend an invitation to attend Gulf Coast state events that will highlight GoMRI contributions to research, recovery, and resilience from a state-based perspective.

Studies Explore the Roles of Halloysite Clay Particles and Solvents in Oil Dispersion Technologies

Scientists with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) have been investigating solvent-free formulations to improve the safety and efficiency of dispersant technologies used in oil spill response. One promising area involves halloysite clay nanotubes.

From the Archives

Study Quantifies Dispersant Effects on Initial Oil Slick Breakup by Waves

Posted on September 26, 2019
Scientists generated breaking waves in the presence of various dispersant and oil ratios (DOR) using a custom-built wave tank to investigate how subsurface oil droplets evolve in a turbulent environment.

Grad Student Viamonte Puts Pressure on Microbial Oil Degradation

Posted on September 27, 2018
When the Deepwater Horizon incident occurred, not much was known about how conditions in the deep sea would affect oil biodegradation. Juan Viamonte uses high-pressure reactors that simulate conditions at depth to observe microbial degradation and help predict what might happen should another deep-ocean oil spill occur.

Study Describes How Autonomous Surface Vehicles Improve Marine Mammal Monitoring

Posted on September 28, 2017
Scientists conducted passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) of whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico using two autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) capable of recording marine mammal sounds.

Study Finds Natural Sunlight Affects Oil-Degrading Bacteria Composition and Dynamics

Posted on September 27, 2016
Scientists from the University of Texas Marine Science Institute demonstrated how natural sunlight affects Gulf of Mexico microbial communities in the presence of Corexit (dispersant) and crude oil. They observed that sunlight significantly reduced the diversity of bacterial communities in the presence of oil, Corexit, or both.

Publications
Study Summarizes Vertical Distribution of Northern Gulf of Mexico Cephalopods
Vertical Distribution Patterns of Cephalopods in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Judkins, H.; Vecchione, M. 2020. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7.
 
Study Describes Current Baseline Isotope Distributions in Southern Gulf of Mexico Surface Sediments
The Southern Gulf of Mexico: A Baseline Radiocarbon Isoscape of Surface Sediments and Isotopic Excursions at Depth. Bosman, S.H.; Schwing, P.T.; Larson, R.A.; Wildermann, N.E.; Brooks, G.R.; Romero, I.C.; Sanchez-Cabeza, J.-A.; Ruiz-Fernandez, A.C.; Machain-Castillo, M.L.; Gracia, A.; Escobar-Briones, E.; Murawski, S.A.; Hollander, D.J.; Chanton, J.P.; Potter-McIntyre, S. 2020. PLoS ONE, 15, 4, e0231678.

Data
Dataset for: Transport of Oil Droplets in the Upper Ocean: Impact of the Eddy Diffusivity -- data link

DNA barcoding of fish eggs collected aboard R/V Weatherbird II cruise WB1731 across the Florida Straits and off of northwestern Cuba from 2017-05-13 to 2017-05-25 -- data link

Dataset for: Statistical simulation of ocean current patterns using autoregressive logistic regression (ALR) models: A case study in the Gulf of Mexico -- data link

Announcements
Save The Date! Sea Grant to Host “Decade of Discovery State Showcases” Series
As GoMRI research comes to a close, the Sea Grant Oil Spill Science Outreach Team will host events to celebrate GoMRI’s unique contributions to research, recovery, and resilience in each Gulf state over the past decade. All events can be attended via Zoom or Facebook Live. See below for more information about your state’s event:
  • Florida: An October 16th event called “Ten Years of GoMRI Science: Honoring Discoveries, Contributions, and Legacies in Florida” will take place at 12 pm Central Time. Register here to attend on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.
  • Alabama: An October 23rd event called “Ten Years of Discovery: Celebrating the Legacy of GoMRI in Alabama” will take place at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. A reception will be held at 6 pm Central Time followed by a the main program at 6:30 pm. Register here to attend the event in person or on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.
  • Mississippi: An October 29th event called “A Salute to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative’s Contribution to the State of Science in Mississippi” will take place at 1 pm Central Time. Register here to attend on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.
  • Louisiana: A November 10th event called “Commemorating 10 Years of GoMRI Science in Louisiana” will take place at 2 pm Central Time. Register here to attend on Zoom or tune in via Facebook Live.