Update on NOAA’s Oil Spill Research and Response Missions
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NOAA continues to play a vital role in the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill response, using all the scientific methods at its disposal, including satellites in space, planes in the air, ships on the water, autonomous underwater vehicles and gliders under the water, and scientists in the field.
There are five NOAA vessels currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico from homeports as far north as New England with missions ranging from seafood safety to detecting submerged oil. This week the NOAA vessels are conducting the following missions:
NOAA Ship Pisces has been supporting the Unified Command in its Deepwater Horizon/BP wellhead integrity testing effort since July 14. The ship has been using sophisticated acoustic echo-sounders and water column profiling instruments to monitor for oil and gas releases in the immediate vicinity of, and directly over, the well head. Data from the mission are currently being analyzed by the National Incident Command, NOAA and the University of New Hampshire daily as they monitor the cap on the wellhead. The 209-ft. vessel is based in Pascagoula, Miss.
NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter is currently studying sperm whales and other marine mammals to learn more about how they are impacted by the oil spill. It will be tracking their abundance and distribution both with visual surveys and by recording sounds using an array of underwater microphones. Earlier this week, the ship monitored for the presence of oil and gas near the wellhead as part of the Unified Command's wellhead integrity testing. The 224-ft. Gordon Gunter is set to remain on this mission until August 8 when it will return to its base in Pascagoula, Miss.
NOAA Ship Nancy Foster is using a remotely operated vehicle to monitor deep-water bottom habitats that have been exposed to the oil/dispersant mixtures from the Deepwater Horizon incident, investigating what impacts may have occurred at this stage of the spill. Researchers will visit areas in the northern Gulf of Mexico that have been previously sampled as well as go to new areas to collect baseline samples on deep-water corals and associated marine life in the Gulf. The 187-ft. vessel is based in Charleston, S.C.
The 209-ft., New England-based NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow will sail from Key West this week to the well head and use its echosounder to monitor for oil and gas releases while NOAA Ship Pisces resupplies.
The 170-ft. NOAA Ship Oregon II departed from its home port of Pascagoula, July 26 to collect samples of fish and shrimp off Louisiana at depths between 30 and 360 feet. The samples will be tested for contaminants as part of the ongoing program that ensures that seafood harvested from the Gulf remains safe for consumers.
Two NOAA aircraft operating out of Mobile, Ala., are active in the spill response effort:
One NOAA DHC-6 Twin Otter, a twin-engine turboprop, is using a multi-spectral scanner to measure surface oil density and thickness.
Another NOAA Twin Otter is providing aerial observations and surveys of marine life, including dolphins, whales and sea turtles in the area of the oil spill. Scientists will evaluate the exposure of marine mammals and turtles to oil, estimate short-term changes in abundance before and after exposure, and examine changes in spatial distribution that may be associated with avoidance of oil as it enters near shore coastal and estuarine habitats.
Sea Turtle Rescue Boats
NOAA sea turtle experts are members of the Incident Command’s Wildlife Branch, which has deployed five turtle rescue boats whose crews search for oiled turtles. So far, about 180 turtles have been rescued, and 170 of those are currently alive in rehabilitation. In addition, the Wildlife Branch has contracted 12 trained turtle observers to work on skimmer boats operated by the Coast Guard and BP. NOAA staff play an integral role in the observer program.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at http://www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.
On the web:
NOAA science mission page: http://www.noaa.gov/sciencemissions/bpoilspill.html
TAMPA, FL - July 19, 2010- Inspired by kids around the country wanting to do more to help other kids and animals affected by disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Mahila Partnership launched a new program Mahila Kids, with the support of BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ's) and Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. Together they are kicking off a supply drive on Saturday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at BJ's Wholesale Club Town & Country, located at 7651 W. Waters Avenue, and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.at BJ's Wholesale Club New Tampa, located at 6290 Commerce Palms Drive.
As part of the Lowry Park Zoo-to-You ZooVentures program, the Zoo's animal ambassadors will be at BJ's and attendees will have the opportunity to experience an up-close animal encounter as well as receive information about how to get involved with Mahila Kids and important facts about protecting wildlife. "As a center for conservation of endangered wildlife and an educational resource for our community, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is pleased to partner with Mahila Kids and BJ's Wholesale Club to help generate awareness of the environmental issues affecting animals and their habitats around the world," said Tony LaForgia, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo's Manager of Corporate Relations. "Understandably, many in our community are greatly cconcerned about wildlife ramifications from the oil spill in the Gulf, which serves as a reminder of the critical need to protect wildlife and wild places."
Mahila Kids is encouraging the community to hold additional collection drives to support Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo's conservation programs, including rescue and rehabilitation of Florida species such as manatees. The list of items needed is
available on the Mahila website at www.mahilapartnership.org/mahilakids.htm. The community can also make cash donations or purchase supplies from the list at one of the Tampa BJ's Wholesale Club locations listed above. These BJ's locations will have merchandise markers around their stores identifying items needed for the zoo and are also serving as a drop-off location for purchases and donations through August 6, 2010. "BJ's Wholesale Club is dedicated to supporting the communities in which we serve," said Laura Ferrario, Community Relations Specialist for BJ's Wholesale Club. "We are delighted to host this supply drive and hope the local community will join us in our efforts to fulfill the needs of our local partners dedicated to conserving wildlife." If you are not currently a member, BJ's is offering a complimentary one day pass to be used for shopping during the event.
About BJ's Wholesale Club: BJ's is dedicated to providing members with high-quality, brand-name food and merchandise at prices that are significantly lower than supermarkets, supercenters, department stores, drug stores and specialty retail stores. BJ's carries the most product variety of any wholesale club with more than 7,000 items, including supermarket-sized staples, USDA Choice meats and stock-up items. BJ's is the only wholesale club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and for greater convenience, offers the most payment options including EBT.
Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 189 clubs and 105 gas stations in 15 eastern states. Learn more and shop online at BJs.com or for exclusive content visit BJ's on Facebook and Twitter.
About Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo: Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in education, conservation and research. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and has been named the No. 1 zoo in America by both Parents magazine (2009) and Child magazine (2004). The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48) and is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with extended hours on select nights during the summer. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.LowryParkZoo.com. Also find the Zoo on Facebook and Twitter.
About Mahila Kids: Inspired by Payson and Wynne and led by 9-year-old Hillary, Mahila Kids was started to raise money to benefit children and animals affected by disasters. Mahila Kids is now working with Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and other Gulf Coast organizations dealing with the effects of the oil spill. By empowering our children, we can bring about leadership, inspiring ideas and positive social change.
Child Led Program Inspires Tampa Bay Organizations To Join Together To Protect Florida Wildlife Following Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
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