Oceanography | Marine Science and Ocean Stories
Oceanography | Marine Science and Ocean Stories
Pine Forest Media | Environmental Science Podcasts
Before the Oil Spill: Baseline Ocean Data and Marine Microbes
35 minutes Posted Feb 3, 2026 at 6:00 am.
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Show notes

Oil-spill science starts long before a disaster. Marine microbial oceanographer Dr. Alice Ortmann explains why baseline ocean data are essential for detecting change around offshore oil and gas activity near Newfoundland. Learn what counts as an oil spill, how oil and methane move through the water, and how marine microbes help researchers assess deep sea ecosystem health, pollution risk, and environmental response before and after an incident.


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Special thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for sponsoring this episode.


Episode Guests: Dr. Alice Ortmann

Connect with Dr. Ortamnn on LinkedIn

Find Dr. Ortmann’s publications on Google Scholar

Visit the Marine Microbiome Forum


Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

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Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz


Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below:

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts


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