Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

NOON BALLOON LECTURE SERIES

Tuesday - October 5, 2010
Rm 417 Schermerhorn
12:15-1:00

Bring your lunch if you like.
All are welcome!

Speaker: Dr. Tim Crone, Lamont Assistant Research Professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Title: Measuring the Size of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Leak: Science in the Media Spotlight

Summary: This year's Deepwater Horizon blowout and subsequent oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico initiated a tragic and unprecedented oceanographic "experiment". Scientists will likely study the effects of this disaster for years. In order to place this research into proper context and fully understand the environmental and ecological impacts of the oil, an accurate estimate of the total oil released will be required. In this talk I will discuss my research on seafloor hydrothermal systems and how this work allowed me to make estimates of the oil flow rates and the total volume released. I will detail my findings to date, and I will also discuss the role played by the media in shaping the story and science surrounding the incident.