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News From the Field

Sunlight reduces effectiveness of dispersants used in oil spills


April 25, 2018

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Two new studies have shown that sunlight transforms oil spills on the ocean surface more significantly and quickly than previously thought. The phenomenon considerably limits the effectiveness of chemical dispersants, which are designed to break up floating oil and reduce the amount of oil that reaches coastlines.Full Story

Source
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

See also: NSF News Release

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