Hydrocarbon A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting

Hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. The majority of hydrocarbons found naturally occur in crude oil, where decomposed organic matter provides an abundance of carbon and hydrogen which, when bonded, can catenate to form seemingly limitless chains. The "self-bonding" or catenation of carbon allows hydrocarbon to form more complex molecules. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Hydrocarbon

Crude Oil

crude oil is a naturally occurring, toxic, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights, and other organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Crude_oil#Crude_oil

monoaromatic

An aromatic hydrocarbon (abbreviated as AH) or arene is a hydrocarbon compound with a conjugated cyclic molecular structure. The term aromatic was derived from the fact that many of the compounds have a sweet scent. monoaromatic triaromatic http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Aromatic_hydrocarbons

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

dissolved oxygen (DO) is a relative measure of the amount of oxygen that is dissolved in a given volume of media. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dissolved_oxygen (DO is not the amount of O 2 gas, bubbles, in a specific volume of ocean water, for instance. It is the concentration of O 2 molecules dissolved in that volume of the water solution, or ocean mixture. )

Multiphase Flow

Multiphase flow deals with flow measurements involving two or more phases that are not chemically related (e. g. dusty gases). Each of the phases is considered to have a separately defined volume fraction and velocity. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Multiphase_flow In this case, the plume of oil droplets occupies a specific volume as compared to the other components of the sea water and its velocity may be distinct from them also. In fluid mechanics, there are equations that deal with modeling the various parameters of the different phases in a flow of mixed media: volume, mass, pressure, velocity, etc.

Preferential solubility

A solute dissolves in a solvent when it forms favorable interactions with the solvent. On a molecular level, there first has to be an interuption in the solvent-solvent interactions. Secondly, the solute must separate from the bulk solute. Thirdly, the solute must be surrounded by the solvent. Preferential solubility could include the term like dissolves like: Polar solutes dissolve in polar solvents whereas non polar solutes dissolve in non polar solvents. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Solvent_effects Preferential solubility could also include the conditions that make one material in a multiphase environment more soluble than another.

Crude Oil Constituents

Various hydrocarbon compounds: liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, kerosene, jet aircraft fuels, benzene, cumene, diesel oil, fuel oil, lubricating oils, asphalt, heavy waxes, tars, along with feedstock hydrocarbons for producing plastics, detergents, elastomers, as well as nylon and polyester fibers. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Oil_refinery

Gas Hydrate formations

Hydrates are not compounds. They are molecular mixtures. First documented in 1810, gas hydrates are waterbased solids physically resembling ice, in which small non polar molecules (typically gases) are trapped inside "cages" of hydrogen bonded water molecules. Most low molecular weight gases (including O 2, H 2, N 2, CO 2, CH 4, H 2 S, Ar, Kr, and Xe), as well as some higher hydrocarbons and freons will form hydrates at suitable temperatures and pressures. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Clathrate_hydrate

TETHYS Mass Spectrometer Included on the bottom of Rosette www. sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/science. 11 95223/DC 1

TETHYS in situ membrane inlet mass spectrometer An instrument with three modules: move ions that exist in solution into the gas phase; a mass analyzer, which sorts the ions by their masses by applying electromagnetic fields; and a detector, which measures the value of an indicator quantity and thus provides data for calculating the abundances of each ion present. Identifies unknown compounds, determines the isotopic composition of elements in a molecule, and determines the structure of a compound. Also can quantify the amount of a compound in a sample. Used to study physical, chemical, or biological properties of a great variety of compounds. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mass_spectrometer

TETHYS in situ membrane inlet mass spectrometer in lateral port Sentry AUV

The Sentry autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is designed for seafloor and water column survey to depths of 4500 m. Sentry has no physical connection to the surface and is controlled by on-board computers. http: //www. sciencemag. org/cgi/data/science. 1195223/DC 1/1

• Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation of a different wavelength. In most cases, emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy, than the absorbed radiation. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Fluorescence

Hydrocarbon Fluorescence

standard deviations above the root-mean-square baseline variability Each band has one standard deviation.

In statistics, the standard deviation of a data set is the square root of its variance. Standard deviation is a widely used measure of the variability or dispersion. For example, the average height for adult men in the United States is about 70 inches (178 cm), with a standard deviation of around 3 in. (8 cm). This means that most men (about 68 percent) have a height within 3 in. (8 cm) of the mean (67 – 73 in/170– 185 cm), one standard deviation. Whereas almost all men (about 95%) have a height within 6 in (15 cm) of the mean (64– 76 in/163– 193 cm), 2 standard deviations. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Standard_deviations

attenuated

Attenuation (disambiguation) Attenuation is the gradual loss in intensity of any kind of flux through a medium. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Attenuated

Volatile hydrocarbons

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds which have significant vapor pressures (vaporize at low temperatures and pressures) and which affect the environment and human health. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compound A hydrocarbon is any organic compound that consists only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). All contain a carbon frame with hydrogen atoms attached to the frame. Most are combustible. Petroleum has various volatile, highly flammable nonpolar solvents. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compound

Aromatic Fluorometer

In organic chemistry, the structures of some rings of atoms are unexpectedly stable. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Aromatic A fluorometer is a device used to measure fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. These parameters are used to identify the presence and the amount of specific molecules in a medium. Modern fluorometers are capable of detecting fluorescent molecule concentrations as low as 1 part per trillion. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Fluorometer

Langrangian Transport

A single particle with mass, m, and position vector, r, moving under an applied force, F, which can be expressed as the gradient of a scalar potential energy function, V(r, t): F = ∇V, becomes the Langrage equation: Introduced by Italian mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange in 1788, Lagrangian mechanics calculates the trajectory of a system of particles. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Lagrangian_mechanics

Doppler Velocity Log

Navigation Device for Underwater Systems Giving Periodic Position Updates for AUVs • Broad. Band processing technology, short and long-term high-precision velocity data • Reliable and accurate high-rate navigation and positioning data • Bottom-detection algorithms, single-ping bottom location, for tracking terrain • Superior low-altitude bottom-tracking capability • Real-time current profiling data • Full suite of sensors including: – Heading/Tilt – Bottom track velocity – Acoustic echo intensity – Water track velocity – Pressure and depth – Altitude: 4 measurements – Current profiling – Error velocity – Temperature http: //www. rdinstruments. com/navigator. aspx

Topographically Controlled Transport

Time series of vertical profiles of salinity and suspended-solids concentration analyzed to describe the influence of bottom topography, tides, turbidity, gravitational circulation, stratification of currents among other factors.

Isodepth of Continental Slope http: //oceanz. tamu. edu/~wormuth/marineprovinces /subcanyonfan. gif

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler mounted in the center of the rosette. Isodepth shows the elevations of the ocean floor. Because water cascades down the Continental Slope, it creates underwater currents. The closer the isobars, the steeper the terrain. http: //www. google. com/imgres? imgurl=http: //www. rsmas. miami. edu/personal/lb eal/current_files/PSldp 2. jpg&imgrefurl=http: //www. rsmas. miami. edu/pers onal/lbeal/current. html&usg=__Qg. T 4918 fv. U 0 R_30 c. Zjq. JSb. PU_JQ=&h=5 99&w=488&sz=97&hl=en&start=76&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=axj 3 E 9 r. YM 3 x 0 r. M: &tbnh=135&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3 Fq%3 Dcontinental% 2 Bslope%2 Bin%2 BGulf%2 BCoast%26 start%3 D 60%26 um%3 D 1%26 hl% 3 Den%26 sa%3 DN%26 rls%3 Dcom. microsoft: en- us%26 ndsp%3 D 20%26 tbs%3 Disch: 1

Baseline Minima Gulf water hydrocarbo n levels 10, 000 times above normal. http: //static. businessinsider. com/image/4 c 0 e 7 c 967 f 8 b 9 a 4 f 481 d 0200 -400300/why-are-scientistsfinding-concentrations-of -methane-at-up-to 10000 -times-normalbackground-levels-ingulf-waters. jpg

Baselines — are measurements taken to establish values that represent the norm for system behavior — the baseline helps the scientist quickly identify what is abnormal, or what deviates from baseline behavior. With baselines, researchers analysis configures alert conditions that vary from baseline values. The baseline is the norm. In graphical data a baseline is often shown on the same graph to contrast how divergent measurements are contrasted to the baseline.

Seafloor Petroleum Hydrocarbon Seeps BP believes an unspecified amount of hydrocarbons seeping from the seafloor near the leaking Macondo well is natural and unrelated to the test of its new containment system, a company spokesman said Monday. "We understand it's natural seepage, " the spokesman said. The seepage is located at about two miles from the well. The U. S. government authorized BP to keep a tightly sealed cap on the damaged well on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico for an additional 24 hours, as concerns linger about the possibility that oil or methane could be seeping from nearby locations as a result of the procedure. http: //www. rigzone. com/news/article. asp? a_id=96284

A petroleum seep is a place where liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons escape to the earth's surface. Seeps may occur above either terrestrial or offshore oil fields. The hydrocarbons may escape through fractures and fissures in the rock, between geological layers, or directly from an oil-bearing outcrop. Petroleum seeps are quite common: California has thousands of naturally occurring seeps. Much of the petroleum discovered in California during the 19 th century was from observations of seeps. The world's largest natural oil seepage is Coal Oil Point in the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Two of the better known tar seep locations in California are Mc. Kittrick and the La Brea Tar Pits. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Petroleum_seep

Gas Chromatography http: //www. google. com/imgres? imgurl=http: //www. cubic. unikoeln. de/research/horstmann/gas_chromatography 2. jpg&imgrefurl=http: // www. cubic. unikoeln. de/research/horstmann/metabolom. html&usg=__Ap. I Tegz. Wt 2 u. LMsp. LHy. Lo. Ry. K 8 V 9 w=&h=540&w=720&sz=33&hl=en&start=2 &zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=f. P 4 GGo. Xkb 4 TM: &tbnh=105&tbnw=140& prev=/images%3 Fq%3 DGas%2 BChromatography%26 um%3 D 1%26 hl%3 Den%26 sa%3 DN%26 rls%3 Dcom. microsoft: en-us%26 tbs%3 Disch: 1

Gas chromatography senses materials with vapor pressure and temperature: A physical property of each material is its vapor temperature. An analytical technique used by chemist to separate and identify compounds in a mixture that can be vaporized without decomposing. Moving phase is an inert carrier gas (He) and the stationary phase a liquid or solid on glass or metal tubing, called a “column”. Because different materials are on the walls of the column, the different gases interact with them at different times, generating the above record. Each gas has its own retention time. The area under those spike curves is calucated by a program using calculus and the concentration of each gas in the mixture. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Gas_chromatography

BTEX Hydrocarbons: Benzene Tolulene Ethylbenzene Xylene Toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

Toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) BTEX stands for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. VOCs in petroleum. Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes have harmful effects on the central nervous system. BTEX compounds often contaminate soil and groundwater near petroleum and natural gas production sites, gas stations and other areas with Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) or Above-ground Storage Tanks (ASTs) containing gasoline or other petroleum-related products. 'Total BTEX', the sum of the concentrations of each of the constituents of BTEX, is used to assess the relative risk or seriousness of contaminated locations and the need for remediation of such sites. Naphthalene may also be included in Total BTEX analysis yielding results referred to as BTEXN. In the same way, styrene is sometimes added, making it BTEXS. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/BTEX

Marine Biota http: //www. buscalibros. cl/img_prod_gra/1603440941. jpg

Surrounding the Gulf of Mexico are many population centers that exploit the numerous estuaries, lagoons, wetlands, reefs, tidal marshes and fresh water rivers and deltas. Coral reefs off Yucatan, Cuba, and Florida provide important fishery habitats. There are extensive wetlands along most coastal boundaries with ecological connections to many seagrass beds nearshore and coastal mangrove forests off Mexico, Cuba, and Florida. This biogeographic confluence creates one of the most productive marine areas on Earth, providing the food web for commercially important species such as lobster, demersal (bottom-dwelling) fish, and shrimp; this same ecology supports large populations of sea turtles and marine mammals. The coastal and nearshore waters also support large phytoplankton populations. http: //www. answers. com/topic/gulf-of-mexico

Gulf of Mexico http: //wpcontent. answc dn. com/wikipedia/com mons/thumb/6/65/Fixe d_gulf_map. png/300 px -Fixed_gulf_map. png

A subtropical semienclosed sea bordering the western North Atlantic Ocean. It connects to the Caribbean Sea on the south through the Yucatan Channel and with the Atlantic on the east through the Straits of Florida. To the north, it is bounded by North America, to the west and south by Mexico and Central America, and on the east and southeast by Florida and Cuba respectively. The continental shelves surrounding the gulf are very broad along the eastern (Florida), northern (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama), and southern (Campeche) area, averaging 125– 186 mi (200– 300 km) wide. The continental shelves along the western and southwestern (Mexico) and southeastern (Cuba) boundaries of the gulf are narrow, often being less than 12 mi (20 km) wide. Between the continental shelves and the Sigsbee Abyssal Plain are three steep continental slopes: the Florida Escarpment off west Florida, the Campeche Escarpment off Yucatan, and the Sigsbee Escarpment south of Texas and Louisiana. Two major submarine canyons crease the gulf's shelf areas: the De Soto Canyon near the Florida-Alabama border, and the Campeche Canyon west of the Yucatan Peninsula. http: //www. answers. com/topic/gulf-of-mexico

Connection between Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentrations and hydrocarbon degradation.

Aromatic hydrocarbon compound constituents of petroleum are priority pollutants monitored by the EPA because their toxic and hazardous properties. Understanding the movement and fate of these compounds in aquatic environments, including groundwaters, involves understanding the various mechanisms which cause these hydrocarbons to degrade. Degradation of hydrocarbons occurs through biotic and abiotic processes. The microbial degradation of hydrocarbons involves specific microorganisms. These organisms include algae, fungi, and bacteria. Much has been published on microbial metabolism of these hydrocarbons. The specific mechanisms of degradation occur in an aerobic environment where an oxidation-reduction reaction causes the decomposition of the molecules. This reaction consumes a great deal of dissolved oxygen from the water. Portions summarized from http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 202624/pdf/aem 00110 -0120. pdf

Winkler Oxygen Titration Lagos Winkler in 1888 A white precipitate reacts with DO to form a brown precipitate 2 Mn(OH)2(s) + O 2(aq) → 2 Mn. O(OH)2(s) brown precipitate. The second part of the Winkler test reduces and acidifies the solution. The Mn(SO 4)2 formed by the acid converts the iodide ions into iodine, and the Manganese(IV) being reduced back to manganese(II) ions in an acidic medium. Mn(SO 4)2 + 2 I-(aq) → Mn 2+(aq) + I 2(aq) + 2 SO 42 -(aq) Thiosulfate solution is used, with a starch indicator, to titrate the iodine. 2 S 2 O 32 -(aq) + I 2 → S 4 O 62 -(aq) + 2 I-(aq) From the stoichiometry 1 mole of O 2 → 2 moles of Mn. O(OH)2 → 2 mole of I 2 → 4 mole of S 2 O 32 -

The Winkler test is a chemical process used to determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in a water sample. DO is widely used in water quality studies. First a White Cloudiness Forms in Water Sample An excess of manganese(II) salt with salts of iodide I- and hydroxide OH- are added to a water sample. A white precipitate forms, manganese(II) hydroxide Mn(OH)2. Second a Brown Cloudiness Forms in Water Sample The white precipitate reacts with oxygen in water to form a brown precipitate, Mn. O(OH)2(s). The white precipitate is oxidized by the dissolved oxygen in the water. Adding a strong acid converts the brown to Mn(SO 4)2 and form I 2 In the next step, a strong acid (either hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid) is added to acidify the solution and oxidize the manganese to Mn(IV). Which is then immediately reduced to Mn(II), giving off dissolved I 2, iodine. Adding a measured amount of thiosulfate (which will equal 4 times the amount DO) until purple iodine disappears. Titrating the solution with thiosulfate until purple iodine disappears. The amount of DO is directly proportional amount thiosulfate added. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Winkler_test_for_dissolved_oxygen

Mean Climatological Values Dissolved Oxygen varies by month. In some water systems, lakes in regions where surface water freezes, lakes where algal bloom is dramatic during hot summer days, the variation can be dramatically different even during one day.

Hypoxia The Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone (i. e. , the area of bottom water with oxygen concentrations below 2 mg/l) is the second largest human-caused zone of hypoxia in the world's coastal waters. Important fisheries are impacted at these low oxygen levels because fish, shrimp and crabs are forced to move from their preferred habitats and animals that cannot move away die. http: //snre. umich. edu/scavia/wpcontent/uploads/2010/08/20 10 -Gulf-of-Mexico-Hypoxic-Forecast-and-result. pdf

• Hypoxia, or low oxygen, is an environmental phenomenon where the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water column decreases to a level that can no longer support living aquatic organisms. Hypoxic areas, or "Dead Zones, " have increased in duration and frequency across our planet's oceans since first being noted in the 1970 s. • The largest hypoxic zone currently affecting the United States, and the second largest hypoxic zone worldwide, is the northern Gulf of Mexico adjacent to the Mississippi River. http: //www. gulfhypoxia. net/

Hypoxia in Gulf Waters off Mississippi Coast Mid-summer Readings

http: //www. gulfhypoxia. net/

Profiles of Fluctuations of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration in the Gulf Waters Gulf waters are very dynamic, changing dramatically with the seasons, and from the surface to the bottom. For example, the Atchafalaya and Mississippi Rivers carry enormous amounts of fresh water into the Gulf and the volume fluctuates with the season. Because the river water is fresh, it’s less dense than the seawater, and tends to stay on the surface. The prevailing current near shore in the Dead Zone is from east to west, so the river water is carried from where the river empties towards western Louisiana and Texas. Seasonal changes in temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen concentration are well documented. As probes are lowered to sea floor data is recorded. The data presented in the graphs called station profiles taken at different times from a station just off Terrebonne Bay. http: //www. google. com/imgres? imgurl=http: //www. sciencecases. org/dead_zone/fig 2. gif&imgrefurl =http: //www. sciencecases. org/dead_zone/case 3. asp&usg=__VVDyae 4 Z 64 SWVBAq. V 4 t. Jg. X DP 9 i. A=&h=363&w=510&sz=27&hl=en&start=4&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=ULVTEf 24 c 6 i Mt. M: &tbnh=93&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3 Fq%3 DGulf%2 Bof%2 BMexico%2 BDissolved%2 BOxygen%2 Bvariation%2 Bby%2 Bmonth%26 um%3 D 1%26 hl%3 Den%26 sa%3 DN%26 rls%3 Dcom. microsoft: en-us%26 tbs%3 Disch: 1

http: //www. sciencecases. org/dead_zone/fig 2. gif