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Your School Ecological Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster and Number Paper Due Ecological Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster
22nd April 2015 is known to be the anniversary date of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which occurred in the Gulf of Mexico 5 years ago. Ecological effects of the catastrophe were really dramatic – almost 68, 000 square miles were directly impacted by the spill. Its volume equals to approximately 4. 9 million barrels of oil. Thus, the attached video and the paper itself focus on ecological influence of the BP oil spill.
Approximately 1, 000 miles of coastline were contaminated. Hundreds of dead sea animals were found alongshore of Florida and Louisiana. In particular, almost 600 sea turtles, 100 dolphins, more than 6000 birds, and lots of other mammals were found dead. Besides, the oil spill increased mortality among whales. As ecologists report, the mortality rate among dolphins increased by 50 times.
According to recent researches, however, the Gulf of Mexico is gradually recovering after the catastrophe. American oceanologists claim that reef-building corals, which cannot survive in contaminated water, are currently in quite good condition. They are reproducing and growing in the ordinary course. At the same time, biologists report insufficient increase in average water temperature.
Some researchers, however, voice fears concerning the impact of the BP oil spill over the Gulf Stream, which is known to be a powerful climate forcing factor. There is an opinion that its temperature has lowered by 10°C. What is more, the stream tends to separate into several underflows. This may be one of the prime causes of certain weather anomalies which could be observed in Europe. Heavy winter frosts may be one of these examples. However, this is just one of the theories which needs to be proven.
It is hard to say how much time nature will need in order to recover after the catastrophe. There is a hope that future generations will not feel its consequences, though there is no guarantee that similar incidents will not occur.
Works Cited
Dahr Jamail. Gulf ecosystem in crisis after BP spill. Al Jazeera. Web. 20 Oct 2013.
TheBlueSeals. The BP Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Web. YouTube. Web. 5 June 2014.