What did we learn from Deepwater Horizon?

Abstract

caused gas and oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days. Ten years after this environmental disaster, scientists studying the spill better understand the complex processes that affect how oil transforms and degrades in the water and just how resilient ecosystems can be to such a disturbance. The disaster response also did nothing to clear up debates about chemicals called dispersants that are often used in spill cleanups. Researchers hope that the technological advances over the past decade—and the knowledge gained—will better prepare the world for the next big spill. Early on the morning of April 21, 2010, Samantha “Mandy” Joye awoke to an ominous email. A colleague of hers was out on the Gulf of Mexico on board the , one of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium’s research ships. In the distance, she could see smoke billowing into the sky. There seemed to be more ships