Freezing waters a barrier to oil spill recovery: Study
A UK-based study has revealed freezing temperatures in deep waters could hamper oil-degrading bacteria's ability to help oceans recover from spills. Researchers found hydrocarbons degraded 65-89% of spills at 5âÂ°C compared to 0-47% at 0âÂ°C. Oceanic bacteria are believed to have played an important role in oil degradation in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster due to favourable temperatures.