Oil spills and environmental impact Flashcards
(14 cards)
How is oil transported around the globe?
Pipelines or ships.
What are some major causes of oil spills?
Bad navigation and equipment failure.
What happened during the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989?
Ship carrying 53 million gallons collided with Bligh Reef.
What were some clean-up methods used in the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
Booms, chemical dispersants, skimming boats, and volunteers used paper towels.
What was a last resort method used to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
Some oil was burned.
What caused the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010?
Oil rig explosion broke pipeline in Gulf of Mexico.
How long did oil flow from the Deepwater Horizon spill?
For months.
What happened to robots and seals trying to stop the Deepwater Horizon spill?
Pressure pushed them away.
What fine was imposed on BP in 2015 related to the Deepwater Horizon spill?
$18.7 billion.
What is the current status of BP despite the Deepwater Horizon disaster?
BP still exists as a world leader in oil.
What is one environmental impact of oil spills on birds?
Birds die from coating and ingestion of oil.
What human health issues can arise from oil spills?
Human repository problems.
How do oil spills affect water quality?
The water is contaminated and can make it unsafe for human consumption/recreation and marine life.
What effect do oil spills have on sunlight penetration in water?
The oil stops sunlight from coming through, harming marine life.
