The southern Gulf of Mexico: A baseline radiocarbon isoscape of surface sediments and isotopic excursions at depth.

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 spi

SUBMITTER: Bosman SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7159241 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature