Page 3 - 201006 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - June 2010

June 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 30/06/2010 11:46 PM Page 3 Biologists Find “Dead Zones” in Gulf 3 Biologists find 'dead zones' around BP oil spill in Gulf Methane at 100,000 times normal levels have been creating oxygen-depleted areas devoid of life near BP's Deepwater Horizon spill, according to two independent scientists Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent Scientists are confronting growing evidence that BP's ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico is creating oxygen-depleted "dead zones" where fish and other marine life cannot survive. Poggy, or menhaden, fish lie dead and stuck in oil from the BP spill in Bay Jimmy, Louisiana. In two separate research voyages, Fish are fleeing the area of the Deepwater Horizon spill, biologists say. Photograph: Sean independent scientists have detected what were Gardner/Reuters described as "astonishingly high" levels of methane, or natural gas, bubbling from the well depths of 1,000 to 1,300 metres in the spill, where John Kessler, assistant professor site, setting off a chain of reactions that suck the concentrations that were already threatening in the Department of Oceanography at Texas oxygen out of the water. In some cases, methane oxygen levels. A&M University, has just returned from a 10- concentrations are 100,000 times normal levels. "That water can go completely anoxic day research trip. Other scientists as well as sport [extremely low oxygen] and that is a pretty Methane is one of the key components fishermen are reporting unusual movements of serious situation for any oxygen-requiring of natural gas, along with others such as ethane fish, shrimp, crab and other marine life, organism. We haven't seen zero-oxygen water and propane, and methane accounts for 40 per including increased shark sightings closer to the but there is certainly enough gas in the water to cent of the gases emanating from BP's leaking Alabama coast. draw oxygen down to zero," she said. well. Larry Crowder, a marine biologist at "It could wreak havoc with those Last year the concentrations of these Duke University, said there were already signs communities that require oxygen," Joye said, gases were found at normal levels of between that fish were being driven from their habitat. wiping out plankton and other organisms at the one to two parts per million. "The animals are already voting with bottom of the food chain. This year, the concentration of methane their fins to get away from where the oil spill is A Texas A&M University dissolved in the seawater is 100,000 times more and where potentially there is oxygen oceanographer issued a similar warning last and, in some places, approaching 1m times depletion," he said. "When you begin to see week on his return from a 10-day research more, Dr Kessler said. animals changing their distribution that is voyage in the Gulf. John Kessler recorded While methane may be toxic to various telling you about the quality of water further "astonishingly high" methane levels in surface marine organisms, one of the focuses of Dr offshore. Basically, the fish are moving closer and deep water within a five-mile radius of the Kessler's research is investigating if the high to shore to try to get to better water." ruptured well. His team also recorded 30% concentration of methane could lead to a Such sightings – and an accumulation of depletion of oxygen in some locations. feeding frenzy by marine micro-organisms that data from the site of the ruptured well and from Even without the gusher, the Gulf was feed on this hydrocarbon. Such a frenzy could the ocean depths miles away – have deepened afflicted by 6,000 to 7,000 square miles of dead lead to a depletion of oxygen levels in the area concerns that the enormity of the environmental zone at the mouth of the Mississippi river, and thus the creation of a so-called dead zone. disaster in the Gulf has yet to be fully caused by run-off from animal waste and farm "There are some drawdowns in oxygen,'' understood. It could also jeopardise the Gulf's fertiliser. Dr Kessler said. "It's significant; we notice it. billion-dollar fishing and shrimping industry. The run-off sets off a chain reaction. It's there.'' In a conference call with reporters, Algae bloom and quickly die, and are eaten up Whether it will create a dead zone Samantha Joye, a scientist at the University of by microbes that also consume oxygen needed depends on how high the concentrations of Georgia who has been studying the effects of by marine life. methane will get and how long they will remain the spill at depth, said the ruptured well was But the huge quantities of methane, or at these enhanced levels. producing up to 50% as much methane and natural gas, being released from the well in With BP increasingly safely siphoning other gases as oil. addition to crude presents an entirely new hydrocarbons to the surface, there are hopes that The finding presents a new challenge to danger to marine life and to the Gulf's lucrative the amount gushing into the Gulf is declining. scientists who so far have been focused on fishing and shrimping industry. That said, the spill is expected to continue until studying the effects on the Gulf of crude oil, "Things are changing, and what impacts the UK-based company can complete at least and the 5.7m litres of chemical dispersants used there are on the food web are not going to be one of the two relief wells it is drilling to to break up the slick. clear until we go out and measure that," said intersect the leaking well and plug it up. BP is Joye said her preliminary findings Joye.[] hoping that will be in late July or August. suggested the high volume of methane coming The National Oceanic and Atmospheric out of the well could upset the ocean food Methane gas threat to sea life Administration, the US Environmental chain. Such high concentrations, it is feared, Protection Agency and the White House Office would trigger the growth of microbes, which By Sheila McNulty in Houston of Science and Technology Policy said in a first break up the methane, but also gobble up peerreviewed, analytical summary joint report oxygen needed by marine life to survive, Methane gas at concentrations in some about subsea monitoring that "dissolved oxygen driving out other living things. cases approaching 1m times the normal level levels remained above immediate levels of has been found around the BP oil spill, raising concern''. But the report also added: "There is a Joye said the methane was settling in a 200- fears it could create a dead zone where marine need to monitor dissolved oxygen levels over metre layer of the water column, between life cannot survive. time.'' [] The site is in a six-mile radius around