How much oil flows into the sea aside from the BP spill? That question arose as I researched a story about a fascinating group of sea creatures that live on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Over the eons, the animals have evolved to thrive on oil and gas seeping up from the seabed.
The answer to the flow question turns out to be a lot.
In 2003, the National Research Council released a comprehensive study, “Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates and Effects.” The 265-page report paints a global portrait of the petrochemical flows, both natural and unnatural. It turns out that the largest contributors far and away are the natural seeps, like those across the bottom of the gulf that power the dark ecosystems. Read more…