Blog Post Image: Study Identifies Deepwater Horizon Debris as Likely Source of Gulf of Mexico Oil Sheens

Surface sheen seen in October 2012 near the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The oil has “dampened” the sea surface, smoothing its surface expression. The research team looked for these dampened areas rather than the sheens themselves as sunlight made the sheens difficult to see at boat level. (Photo by Chris Reddy, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)