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Contribution to Book
Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Bottom Sediments and Depositional Processes: A Baseline for Future Oil Spills
Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills Fighting the Next War
  • Gregg R. Brooks, Eckerd College
  • Rebekka A. Larson, Eckerd College
  • Patrick Schwing, University of South Florida
  • Arne R. Diercks, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Maickel Armenteros, Universidad de La Habana
  • Misael Diaz-Asencio, Center for Research and Higher Education at Ensenada
  • Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología
  • Ana C. Ruiz-Fernandez, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología
  • Juan Carlos Herguera, Center for Research and Higher Education at Ensenada
  • Libia H. Pérez-Bernal, Unidad Académica Mazatlán
  • David Hollander, University of South Florida
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
7-1-2019
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Sediments, Geochronology, Sedimentary processes
Disciplines
Abstract

The deposition/accumulation of oil on the seafloor is heavily influenced by sediment/texture/composition and sedimentary processes/accumulation rates. The objective of this chapter is to provide a baseline of Gulf of Mexico sediment types and transport/depositional processes to help guide managers where oiled sediments may be expected to be deposited and potentially accumulate on the seafloor in the event of a future oil spill. Based solely on sediments/processes/accumulation rates, regions most vulnerable to oil deposition/accumulation include the deep eastern basin, followed by the western/southwestern basin, and north and west continental margins. The least vulnerable regions include the northwest Cuban shelf and the carbonate-dominated west Florida shelf and Campeche Bank. This is intended to be used as a general, “first cut” tool and does not consider local variations in sediments/processes.

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Bottom Sediments and Depositional Processes: A Baseline for Future Oil Spills, in S. A. Murawski, C. H. Ainsworth, S. Gilbert, D. J. Hollander, C. B. Paris, M, Schlüter & D. L. Wetzel (Eds.), Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills: Fighting the Next War, Springer, p. 75-95

Citation Information
Gregg R. Brooks, Rebekka A. Larson, Patrick Schwing, Arne R. Diercks, et al.. "Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Bottom Sediments and Depositional Processes: A Baseline for Future Oil Spills" Scenarios and Responses to Future Deep Oil Spills Fighting the Next War (2019) p. 79 - 95
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/patrick-schwing/20/