Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
The Crisis Response team is no longer actively maintaining this page so some information may be out of date, or no longer available.
Quick links
On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on the semi-submersible offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 rig workers and injuring 17 others. On April 24, it was found that the wellhead was damaged and was leaking oil into the Gulf. This significant spill poses a serious threat to wildlife, affecting as many as 400 species along the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Google Earth files (download these KML files and view them in Google Earth)
- Google Earth Layer Collection (includes most of the layers on this page) Download KML
- Time-lapse animation of NOAA-NESDIS observed oil outline, since May 19. Download KML
- MODIS satellite images, since 4/21/2010. Download KML
- NOAA Oil Spill Trajectory Forecasts. Download KML
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Animation of satellite imagery showing progression of oil slick. Download KML
KML courtesy of NASA, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Observing System, and EarthNC. -
Multi-layer data overlay showing projected slick expansion, boom
placement, and habitats. Download KML
KML courtesy of Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness - Oil spill maps with spill extents from DLR-ZKI. Download KML
- Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from ESA. Download KML
- NOAA aerial photography. Download KML
- EPA Deepwater Horizon Response ASPECT imagery. Download KML
- NEOS Aerial Imagery of beaches (21-26 May, 2010). Download KML
- MDA RadarSat-2 Gulf of Mexico imagery. Download KML
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Black Tides: The Worst Oil Spills in History: Download KML
KML layer courtesy of David Tryse -
Tour of impacts of Marine Protected Areas: Download KML
KML layer courtesy of GreenInfo Network
Map and Data Sites
- NOAA: Mapping the Response to BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
- How big is the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill?
- Louisiana Bucket Brigade: User Reports using Ushahidi
- Defenders of Wildlife: Gulf Oil Spill Response and Recovery reports
- Gulf of Maine Coastal Observing System: Oil Spill Information
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: GIS Data
- Mineral Management Service: Gulf of Mexico Maps and Spatial Data
- Envirogent: Environmental data mapping including water samples
- New York Times Oil Spill Maps and Graphics Pages
How to Help
- Read: U.S.News & World Report's 10 Things You Can Do To Help The Gulf Coast
- Volunteer: American Red Cross Panama City, FL; Audubon Society; Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana; Mobile Bay National Estuary; Mobile Baykeeper
- Donate: Alabama Coastal Foundation
News and Updates
- News: Google News, Real Time updates on Google Search
- Resources: Deepwater Horizon Unified Command, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Louisiana Shore Cleanup Facebook page, International Charter Space and Major Disaster, US Environmental Protection Agency, The White House Response