viii
Benjamin P. Flower We also dedicate this volume to
our friend, mentor, and colleague Benjamin (“Ben”)
P. Flower. Ben’s paleoceanographic research focused
on the role of ocean circulation in past global climate
change on decadal through orbital timescales. He was
a pioneer in recognizing the value of pairing
foraminifera to determine the past oxygen isotopic
composition of seawater. Despite his propensity for
seasickness, Ben participated in eight oceanographic
research cruises, including expeditions in the Gulf of
Mexico following the DWH oil spill. He was a key
player in early work to assess the impact of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the sediments and
deepwater communities of the West Florida Shelf and Slope. He coined the terms
“flocculent blizzard” and “dirty bathtub ring” referring to two mechanisms for oil
residue sedimentation. He also initiated a high-resolution sediment sampling
approach, which proved to be essential for detecting the Deepwater Horizon in the
sediments of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Although his scientific accomplishments
were substantial, Ben was also a loving and involved father and an accomplished
athlete. He played tennis competitively at Brown, was an avid soccer and ultimate
Frisbee player, and was a member of the National Champion Santa Barbara Condors
ultimate team. In ultimate, players are responsible for playing fairly, refereeing
themselves, and upholding the “spirit of the game.” Ben was a special person: kind,
caring, hardworking, honest, and dedicated to his family, friends, and colleagues.
In Ben’s personal and professional life, he truly embodied the “spirit of the game.”
Wes, John, and Ben were ardent scientists with a passion for the natural world. Their
contributions to GoMRI and C-IMAGE and to science and society were significant
and long lasting. They will be missed.
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Steven A. Murawski
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Cameron H. Ainsworth
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Sherryl Gilbert
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
David J. Hollander
Miami, FL, USA
Claire B. Paris
Hamburg, Germany
Michael Schlüter
Sarasota, FL, USA
Dana L. Wetzel
Acknowledgement and Attribution Much of the research presented in this volume
was made possible by grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)
as noted in the individual chapters. Data resulting from original research supported
by GoMRI are publicly available through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
Information & Data Cooperative (GRIIDC) at https://data.gulfresearchinitiative.org
with specific locations (DOI) provided in individual chapters. Some chapters present preliminary findings, therefore finalized datasets will be made available through
GRIIDC when available for submission.
Foreword and Dedication
Benjamin P. Flower We also dedicate this volume to
our friend, mentor, and colleague Benjamin (“Ben”)
P. Flower. Ben’s paleoceanographic research focused
on the role of ocean circulation in past global climate
change on decadal through orbital timescales. He was
a pioneer in recognizing the value of pairing
foraminifera to determine the past oxygen isotopic
composition of seawater. Despite his propensity for
seasickness, Ben participated in eight oceanographic
research cruises, including expeditions in the Gulf of
Mexico following the DWH oil spill. He was a key
player in early work to assess the impact of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the sediments and
deepwater communities of the West Florida Shelf and Slope. He coined the terms
“flocculent blizzard” and “dirty bathtub ring” referring to two mechanisms for oil
residue sedimentation. He also initiated a high-resolution sediment sampling
approach, which proved to be essential for detecting the Deepwater Horizon in the
sediments of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Although his scientific accomplishments
were substantial, Ben was also a loving and involved father and an accomplished
athlete. He played tennis competitively at Brown, was an avid soccer and ultimate
Frisbee player, and was a member of the National Champion Santa Barbara Condors
ultimate team. In ultimate, players are responsible for playing fairly, refereeing
themselves, and upholding the “spirit of the game.” Ben was a special person: kind,
caring, hardworking, honest, and dedicated to his family, friends, and colleagues.
In Ben’s personal and professional life, he truly embodied the “spirit of the game.”
Wes, John, and Ben were ardent scientists with a passion for the natural world. Their
contributions to GoMRI and C-IMAGE and to science and society were significant
and long lasting. They will be missed.
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Steven A. Murawski
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Cameron H. Ainsworth
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Sherryl Gilbert
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
David J. Hollander
Miami, FL, USA
Claire B. Paris
Hamburg, Germany
Michael Schlüter
Sarasota, FL, USA
Dana L. Wetzel
Acknowledgement and Attribution Much of the research presented in this volume
was made possible by grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)
as noted in the individual chapters. Data resulting from original research supported
by GoMRI are publicly available through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
Information & Data Cooperative (GRIIDC) at https://data.gulfresearchinitiative.org
with specific locations (DOI) provided in individual chapters. Some chapters present preliminary findings, therefore finalized datasets will be made available through
GRIIDC when available for submission.
Foreword and Dedication