@article {2669,
	title = {The southern Gulf of Mexico: A baseline radiocarbon isoscape of surface sediments and isotopic excursions at depth},
	journal = {PLOS ONE},
	volume = {15},
	year = {2020},
	month = {Mar-04-2021},
	pages = {e0231678},
	abstract = {The southern Gulf of Mexico (sGoM) is home to an extensive oil recovery and development infrastructure. In addition, the basin harbors sites of submarine hydrocarbon seepage and receives terrestrial inputs from bordering rivers. We used stable carbon, nitrogen, and radiocarbon analyses of bulk sediment organic matter to define the current baseline isoscapes of surface sediments in the sGoM and determined which factors might influence them. These baseline surface isoscapes will be useful for accessing future environmental impacts. We also examined the region for influence of hydrocarbon deposition in the sedimentary record that might be associated with hydrocarbon recovery, spillage and seepage, as was found in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM) following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 2010. In 1979, the sGoM experienced a major oil spill, Ixtoc 1. Surface sediment δ13C values ranged from -22.4{\textperthousand} to -19.9{\textperthousand}, while Δ14C values ranged from -337.1{\textperthousand} to -69.2{\textperthousand}.
Sediment δ15N values ranged from 2.8{\textperthousand} to 7.2{\textperthousand}, while the \%C on a carbonate-free basis ranged in value of 0.65\% to 3.89\% and \%N ranged in value of 0.09\% to 0.49\%. Spatial trends for δ13C and Δ14C were driven by water depth and distance from the coastline, while spatial trends for δ15N were driven by location (latitude and longitude). Location and distance from the coastline were significantly correlated with \%C and \%N. At depth in two of twenty (10\%) core profiles, we found negative δ13C and Δ14C excursions from baseline values in bulk sedimentary organic material, consistent with either oil-residue deposition or terrestrial inputs, but likely the latter. We then used 210Pb dating on those two profiles to determine the time in which the excursion-containing horizons were deposited. Despite the large spill in 1979, no evidence of hydrocarbon residue remained in the sediments from this specific time period.},
	keywords = {Gulf of Mexico, hydrocarbons, Oil spills, Oils, Petroleum, Sediment},
	doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.023167810.1371},
	url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32294128},
	author = {Bosman, Samantha H. and Schwing, Patrick T. and Larson, Rebekka A. and Wildermann, Natalie E. and Brooks, Gregg R. and Romero, Isabel C. and Sanchez-Cabeza, Joan-Albert and Ruiz-Fern{\'a}ndez, Ana Carolina and Machain-Castillo, Maria Luisa and Gracia, Adolfo and Escobar-Briones, Elva and Murawski, Steven A. and Hollander, David J. and Chanton, Jeffrey P.},
	editor = {Potter-McIntyre, Sally}
}
@article {2481,
	title = {Sedimentation Pulse in the NE Gulf of Mexico following the 2010 DWH Blowout},
	journal = {PLOS ONE},
	volume = {10},
	year = {2015},
	month = {Feb-07-2016},
	pages = {e0132341},
	abstract = {The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil discharge at the seafloor as recorded in bottom sediments of the DeSoto Canyon region in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Through a close coupling of sedimentological, geochemical, and biological approaches, multiple independent lines of evidence from 11 sites sampled in November/December 2010 revealed that the upper ~1 cm depth interval is distinct from underlying sediments and results indicate that particles originated at the sea surface. Consistent dissimilarities in grain size over the surficial ~1 cm of sediments correspond to excess 234Th depths, which indicates a lack of vertical mixing (bioturbation), suggesting the entire layer was deposited within a 4{\textendash}5 month period. Further, a time series from four deep-sea sites sampled up to three additional times over the following two years revealed that excess 234Th depths, accumulation rates, and 234Th inventories decreased rapidly, within a few to several months after initial coring. The interpretation of a rapid sedimentation pulse is corroborated by stratification in solid phase Mn, which is linked to diagenesis and redox change, and the dramatic decrease in benthic formanifera density that was recorded in surficial sediments. Results are consistent with a brief depositional pulse that was also reported in previous studies of sediments, and marine snow formation in surface waters closer to the wellhead during the summer and fall of 2010. Although sediment input from the Mississippi River and advective transport may influence sedimentation on the seafloor in the DeSoto Canyon region, we conclude based on multidisciplinary evidence that the sedimentation pulse in late 2010 is the product of marine snow formation and is likely linked to the DWH discharge.},
	doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0132341},
	url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132341},
	author = {Brooks, Gregg R. and Larson, Rebekka A. and Schwing, Patrick T. and Romero, Isabel and Moore, Christopher and Reichart, Gert-Jan and Jilbert, Tom and Chanton, Jeff P. and Hastings, David W. and Overholt, Will A. and Marks, Kala P. and Kostka, Joel E. and Holmes, Charles W. and Hollander, David},
	editor = {Chin, Wei-Chun}
}
