Oil in the Ocean

In New Orleans in 2008, a 600-foot tanker collided with a 200-foot fuel barge spilling several hundred thousand gallons of oil into the Mississippi River. While large spills such as this one contribute to oil pollution, almost 95 percent of the oil in the ocean is a result of polluted runoff water, making oil residue on roadways and oil dumped into storm drains the number one cause of oil pollution in the ocean. Explore other videos that capture the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm at NOAA Ocean Today