Degradation of Deepwater Horizon oil buried in a Florida beach influenced by tidal pumping

Tidal pumping enhanced buried oil degradation in Gulf of Mexico sandy beaches through improving environmental conditions for microbial degradation in the sand and removal of degradation products. During ebb tide, warm O2-saturated air was drawn into the sand supporting aerobic microbial oil degradation in deeper sediment layers. During flood, air was pumped upward through the oiled sand, providing moisture for sedimentary microbial growth and removing CO2 from the beach.155