Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers 2 (ADDOMEx-2): Towards a synthesis of process and pathways of marine oil snow formation
Implementing Organization
Mount Allison University
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$4,736,265
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)
Funding Program
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative GoMRI Grant Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Chemical Aspects Research
Targeted Resources
Microbial Communities
Project Description
The work proposed here will build on the previous findings of ADDOMEx. Specifically, research during ADDOMEx identified many of the bacteria and phytoplankton responsible for the copious production of transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP), exopolymeric substances (EPS), marine snow and marine oil snow (MOS) in the presence and absence of oil (as a water accommodated fraction; WAF), the dispersant Corexit, and Corexit-dispersed oil (as a chemically enhanced water accommodated fraction, CEWAF, and as a diluted form, herein called DCEWAF). The factors that influence or retard the subsurface scavenging of oil into MOS were determined and ongoing research is beginning to pinpoint the processes that promote decomposition of the oil post MOS formation.The next step is thus to integrate ADDOMEx derived insights into a comprehensive conceptual model framework. Key experiments will generate measurements needed to improve numerical modeling (in conjunction with FOMOSA and others) which will enhance prediction capabilities in order to guide the decision process of first responders. The primary experimental goal of ADDOMEx-2 is to perform a series of “wrap-up” experiments intended to fill current knowledge gaps.
Contact
Antonietta QuiggNone
quigga@tamug.edu
Project Website
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