Oil spills

In 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon caused a massive oil spill, covering than 112,00km2 of the ocean’s surface. Due to the oceanic currents, winds and waves the oil quickly spread along the coastline of the United States, intoxicating a wide range of organisms in the process.

Recently, in September 2021, another oil spill happened in the Gulf of Mexico, when an oil platform sank due to hurricane Ivan. While this oil spill wasn’t as massive as the 2010 disaster, oil spills like this can still have a massive impact on the Mississippi delta. On the other side of the world, a blowout at a non-producing well in Bayelsa state Nigeria, crude oil has been pouring into the creeks of the Niger delta for well over a month. The decades of oil production in the area have made the region one of the most polluted places on earth.

As the oil spills out in the ocean, the chemical composition of the oil will change largely because of weathering. This weathering includes processes such as sedimentation, evaporation, and microbial oxidation. During this weathering process, a large portion of the oil will mix with the water and emulsify. This mixture is more difficult to remediate.

The oil spill will also affect the vegetation of the wetlands in the delta. While the vegetations response to oil depends on what kind of vegetation and the chemical composition of the oil, generally it is harmful. Through the vegetation the oil can penetrate the soil and come into contact with the nutrient-absorbing roots of the vegetation, which can kill the plants. We can see the long-term impacts of oil spills on the wildlife as well, especially with seabirds. It is estimated that 800.000 birds died as an immediate result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and 80% of pelican eggs were exposed to the leaking chemicals for more than 90 days. The oil also impacts fish and shows that they are more vulnerable to predators due to developing poor eyesight and impaired cardiac functions. This also indirectly affects the seafood, as crude oils contain metals like copper, lead, and arsenic. These metals and other chemicals can build up in the seafood and make it unsafe to eat.

The delta's

Niger Delta


The Niger River originates in the Guinea Highlands and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the Gulf of Guinea. Swamps cover a large part of the delta region, and the mangrove swamp is considered Africa’ largest. The delta region is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and sea level rise, increased precipitation and intense industrial activities make the area susceptible to climatic variability.

Mississippi Delta


The Mississippi River begins in Lake Itasca in the state of Minnesota and empties into the Gulf of Mexico, near New Orleans. The many river deposits have created a delta around the outflow area, the Mississippi Delta. The delta has multiple so-called ‘delta lobes’ that continued to build over time. In response the river would eventually changes courses and abandon the old lobes to find the fastest way to sea. The abandoned lobes would eventually sink and erode, forming estuaries and barrier islands.