Oil swirls through the water in the Gulf of Mexico |
KILROY & FAST
Modernizing Disaster Response
As we watch in horror and frustration as the worst oil spill in American history continues unchecked in the Gulf of Mexico, we at ORCA are more determined than ever to improve the way we respond to these disasters.One frustration is the lack of knowledge concerning where the oil is, where it is heading, and how close it is to impacting coastal estuaries and near shore environments with ecologically important ecosystems. Another hindrance is the mind-boggling number of toxicity tests that must be run so that the true impact of the spill can be documented and appropriate mitigation protocols applied. Toxicology labs are already overwhelmed with samples and the backlog is growing. Aerial View of the Devastation in the Gulf
ORCA Kilroy arrays, by mapping flows, assist in determining when and where toxic pollutants, like oil spills, are entering important bodies of water. By design, the Kilroy Network simplifies integration of other environmental sensors, meaning commercially available sensors capable of measuring hydrocarbon and other chemical concentrations can be rapidly incorporated into the network. This enhanced Kilroy Network can act as the sentinel that will tell you exactly when pollutants have entered the area, in what concentration, and the direction in which the pollutant plume is heading. View Leak Live
As the oil spill has the potential to cause unprecedented environmental and economic damage, sound scientific evaluation will be vital to assess the impact as well as monitor any remediation efforts. ORCA’s Fast Assessment of Sediment Toxicity (FAST) program will allow us to quickly, and inexpensively monitor the toxicity of sediment and invertebrate samples collected from areas impacted by the oil. In fact, ORCA may be evaluating the first deep-water sediment samples collected from the area impacted by the oil spill. These samples will provide a baseline measure of the impact of the oil, and the dispersant used to bind the oil, on the marine environment, but there is much more work to be done. View Daily Update of the Oil Spill
Help us bring Kilroy and FAST to bear on this and future environmental disasters so that appropriate mitigation protocols can be applied where impacts are earliest and greatest. Your donations will further the development of measurement systems, mounting platforms, and chemical sensors necessary to provide
low-cost, rapidly-deployed monitoring equipment in areas that need it most.
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TCPalm: Research Group Not Waiting For Government Action
While surface oil is being surveyed in the Gulf of Mexico, little data is being collected on the damage being caused underwater. Much of the problem for the failure to collect data is that the federal government has allowed BP to make decisions since it has committed to funding protection and cleanup operations. And, Widder said, it may not be in BP’s best interests to help collect scientific data that would demonstrate the extent of damages. Read Article |
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BP Lacks Sense of Urgency, Scientist Says
Frustrated by BP’s control of the purse strings, and therefore the scientific efforts to monitor the largest oil spill in U.S. history, one South Florida researcher has launched her own effort to guard the state’s eastern shores. Deep sea explorer Edith Widder, founder of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association, began collecting sediment samples this week at inlets from Miami to Sebastian, including those in Palm Beach County. Read Article |
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Collection of Scientific Data on Oil Spill Critical
Edie Widder, a world-renowned marine researcher and passionate protector of the ocean environment, has witnessed the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with sadness and a degree of frustration. She believes her organization can provide important scientific data on the impact of the spill, but funding has not been made available and time may be running out.
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Ocean Researcher Warns of 'Oilberg' Coming Closer to Us
If you listen to Tom Daly, coordinator for St. Lucie County’s Division of Emergency Management, you might feel reassured the worst of the Gulf oil spill won’t be coming our way. Edie Widder, PhD, an internationally renowned ocean researcher based in Fort Pierce, would vehemently disagree. The spill is a continuing disaster that will impact us, our waterways and our grandkids for generations to come, she says. Read Article
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More About Kilroy
ORCA envisions a revolutionary approach toward marine conservation—one that works
"in-the-water" to help reverse continuing trends of marine degradation. ORCA's technology development is targeted on monitoring the quality of water—the precious habitat fish, marine mammals, and other wildlife require for survival—and then partnering with communities to stop the pollution damaging these ecosystems. Learn More |
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More About The FAST Program
Sediment toxins remain a significant and unmeasured component of the health of the ecosystem. In response, ORCA has developed the Fast Assessment of Sediment Toxicity (FAST) program. FAST is a “canary in a coal mine” method to assess relative toxicity of sediment samples using broad-spectrum toxicity tests. In essence, FAST quickly identifies pollution sinks in aquatic environments. Learn More |
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ORCA IS DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION & RESTORATION OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS &
THE SPECIES THEY SUSTAIN THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
& SCIENCE BASED CONSERVATION ACTION.
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT OUR MISSION.
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"ORCA’s Kilroy is
brilliant. The whole concept of a low-cost monitoring network is critical for understanding the ocean so we can better protect it.
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Sylvia Earle, Ph.D.
National Geographic
Explorer-in-Residence
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DR. WIDDER DISCUSSES KILROY
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KILROY REACTS TO STORM EVENT
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