USGS Collects Sediment Samples at East Ship Island

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists collected environmental data and samples at beach, barrier island, and wetland sites in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  The USGS Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Science Centers collaborated to collect samples of water and sediments for analysis of inorganic and organic constituents, benthic invertebrates, and oil and microorganism fingerprints before and after petroleum-associated product arrived on shore.

Scientists from the USGS Mississippi Water Science Center’s Gulf of Mexico-Deepwater Horizon field team process water and sediment samples. The scientists also prepare chain-of-custody documentation for each sample. USGS analyses of the sediment will be used to identify chemical and biological changes that may have been caused by the arrival of crude oil product from the failure of the Deepwater Horizon well in April 2010.

You can view a map of related USGS sampling locations or access the data for sampling site MS-39.