ABSTRACT Wang, P. and Roberts, T.M., 2013. Distribution of surficial and buried oil contaminants across sandy beaches along NW Florida and Alabama coasts following the deepwater horizon oil spill in 2010. The failed Deepwater Horizon (DWH) well released approximately 7.0 × 105 m3 of oil into the northern Gulf of Mexico during an 84-day period from 20 April 2010 to 15 July 2010. This study examined the beach oiling that resulted from the DWH spill, specifically the cross-shore distribution of both surface and buried oil, based on a series of field investigations and transport mechanisms following principles of beach morphodynamics. Five types of oil contamination were distinguished, including tar balls, tar patties, tar cakes, oil sheet, and stained sand. All five types were identified both on the beach surface and buried underneath contaminated and clean sand. The cross-shore distribution of surface oil was bound landward by the maximum high-tide wave run-up, which was, in turn, controlled by the incident...