Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Do oil spills contribute to global warming?
Saturday, February 13, 2021
By Lisa Freedland
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NO
Oil spills do not directly contribute to global warming, although they do harm other aspects of the environment, contaminating ecosystems and endangering life forms.
When oil spills occur, the oil does not mix with the water. Instead, it creates a thin layer on the surface, called a “slick” or a “sheen” after the layer expands. Once the sheen breaks down, some of the oil will sink into the ocean. Marine life may ingest the oil, leading to sickness, death or the inability to reproduce.
Oil spills in open water can also have disastrous impacts on coastal areas. Besides the visible impact of covering wildlife in oil, habitats are harmed by contact with the thick oil slicks.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: How oil harms animals and plants in marine environments
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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