Breaking: Massive New Oil Plume Found Lurking in Gulf

We’re learning new details about the effects of dispersants on the massive BP oil disaster, now estimated on the low end to be 19 million gallons. University of South Florida researchers say they’ve now discovered a huge swath of subsurface oil. It stretches north 22 miles from the Deepwater Horizon site towards Alabama:

David Hollander, associate professor of chemical oceanography at the school, says the thick plume was detected just beneath the surface down to about 3,300 feet. He says it’s more than 6 miles wide.

Scientists say they are worried the undersea plumes may be from chemical dispersants used to break up the oil a mile under the surface.

The new plume is in addition to the 20-mile-long, 6-mile-wide, 100-foot-thick plume discovered earlier this month.

Help ensure NWF has the funding needed to be on the front lines helping wildlife >>
 

For all the latest news on how the oil spill is impacting the Gulf Coast’s wildlife & to learn how you can help, visit NWF.org/OilSpill.