Contrary to what has long been thought, a minority of oil spills at sea are of natural origin.
There may of course be seepage from the seabed, which naturally releases hydrocarbons;
but most slicks form from cleaning the tanks of large shipping vessels and leaks from oil and gas rigs or underwater pipelines, shows work published in
Science
on June 17.
Using new mapping, researchers have estimated that around 94% of oil releases between 2014 and 2019 were related to human activities, and only 6% to natural releases.
A previous estimate put the weight of human activities at 54% for the period 1994-1999.
This work by researchers from the University of Nanjing (China) associated with a scientist from the University of Florida (United States), is therefore surprising for certain experts.
“The results of this publication run counter to ideas…
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