Oil Spill Response: Databases
Our researchers have developed extensive long-term baseline data and monitoring sets that have been and can be extremely helpful in oil spill relief efforts. Please contact individual researchers or Dr. Roer if interested in finding out more.
- Oil and gas seeps: in partnership with several NOAA programs, over 20 years of transect data (video, stills) from oil/gas cold seeps from Texas to SC.
- Coral reefs: In partnership with other NOAA and academic programs, Aquarius Reef Base supported almost 20 years of in situ research on Florida Keys reefs, and other reefs across the Caribbean, many of which include video and photo data sets, physical and chemical oceanographic data sets, and other long-term monitoring data.
- Deep coral ecosystems: physical, biological and chemical data on deep coral ecosystems from the vicinity of the Horizon platform to North Carolina.
- Salt marshes and oyster reefs: Extensive monitoring of vital communities, over many sites and years, which will provide the critical background for prediction and later assessment of effects. Capability to quickly respond with expertise and sampling should the situation warrant. Expertise in restoration. This expertise applies throughout the southeast Atlantic coast.
- Offshore reef communities: prior extensive work indicating critical shelf reef habitats from Texas to NC, including data that would allow for prediction and later assessment of spill impacts.
- Gulf Stream ecosystems: information on pelagic habitats associated with the Gulf Stream, including Sargassum mats and frontal hydrographic features
- Estuarine community health and fisheries impacts: long-term monitoring of Cape Fear River and tidal creek estuaries have provided extensive data base for prediction and later assessment of effects. Research on key finfish (e.g. bluefish, spot, croaker, flounder, etc.) and shellfish (blue crab, shrimp, oyster, clam, scallop) fisheries provides expertise and data base to assess potential impacts. Have capability to quickly response should the situation warrant.
- Sea turtles, shorebirds and marine mammals: Long term data base for prediction and later assessment of effects. Capability (including expertise, infrastructure, and federal permits) to respond if impacts occur. Currently our marine mammals researchers (Laboratory of Pabst and McLellan) are working in the Gulf of Mexico, indicating response capability.
- Nearshore coastal ocean processes: currents, storm impacts, coastal ocean chemistry, biological oceanography.
- Microbiology: impacts on oil degradation, impacts of oil on microbial processes.
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