Earth Institute researchers in many disciplines are studying the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and are available to provide information and perspective to press. These include experts in regional seafloor geology; technology of deepwater drilling and spill control; measurement of spill flow; potential movements via underwater or surface currents; possible biological effects; potential effects of the upcoming hurricane season; and wider policy implications of the spill. Journalists may contact researchers directly. Unless otherwise stated, all are with our Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
DEEP-SEA DRILLING/GEOLOGY
Roger N. Anderson, an oil geophysicist, is expert in the challenges of deepwater geology, drilling, and capping of wells. He coauthored several prescient papers on the Gulf of Mexico including: Prospectivity of the Ultra-Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and Future Natural Gas Supplies and the Ultra-Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Hear him discuss options—including a nuclear bomb–for stopping the spill, on radio WNYC. Anderson@ldeo.columbia.edu 713-398-7430
Stefan Mrozewski is an engineer with the Lamont Borehole Research Group and former oil-industry employee who has worked extensively on deepwater oil rigs in the Gulf. He is familiar with the risks of deepwater drilling. Read his comments to the New York Times Week in Review. Stefan@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8390
David Goldberg directs the Borehole Research Group, and can speak directly to the challenges of deep-sea drilling, and potential obstacles, including formation of gas hydrates that defeated a previous capping attempt. Goldberg@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8674
SEAFLOOR PROCESSES/OIL FLOW
Timothy Crone , a marine geophysicist, was one of the first to overturn original low estimates of the spill rate. His video studies are normally designed to measure analogous natural processes such as hydrothermal venting. Read his coauthored New York Times op-ed Measure of a Disaster, or hear him discuss the spill on public radio. crone@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8687. (Marine geophysicist Maya Tolstoy can also address this issue. Tolstoy@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8791)
SURFACE AND DEEPWATER TRACKING
Andreas Thurnherr is an oceanographer specializing in the circulation and mixing of deep ocean waters, and the implications for deepwater organisms. He can discuss the challenges of analyzing hidden oil movements far under the water surface. Read his CNN.com piece, ‘No Idea’ Where Deep Water Oil Is Drifting. ant@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8816
Christopher Zappa is an oceanographer specializing in upper-ocean processes including turbulence, currents, waves and the processes of coasts and estuaries, using remote sensing. He can discuss measurement and tracking of oil at the water surface. See him analyze infrared images suggesting the spill’s vast extent for CBS News. zappa@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8547
BIOLOGY
Andrew Juhl is a biological oceanographer who can speak to potential effects on the base of the food chain—phytoplankton—as well as how microbes might consume the oil, and related issues such as potential effects these processes could have on oxygen and other qualities of the water on which higher organisms depend. andyjuhl@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8837
Ajit Subramaniam is a biological oceanographer who uses remote sensing and phytoplankton physiology to study how marine ecosystems work. He can address potential effects of the spill on water chemistry, microbes and phytoplankton, and the possible wider effects. See his analysis of the natural ocean plume created by the Amazon River. ajit@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8641
WEATHER
Tony Barnston is lead forecaster for the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, which produces near-term climate forecasts for many parts of the world. He can discuss how the upcoming summer hurricane season may affect the spill. Read how IRI predicts a potentially intense season in the Gulf region this year. tonyb@iri.columbia.edu 845-680-4447
POLICY
Steve Cohen is executive director of The Earth Institute. A former EPA official, he is a leader in building environmental management programs, and in analyzing broad environmental policy issues. Read his recent essay The Gulf Oil Spill as a Breach of Our National Security. Sc32@columbia.edu 212-854-4445
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More information: Kevin Krajick, Senior Science Writer, The Earth Institute
kkrajick@ei.columbia.edu 212-854-9729
