What are Abiotic Factors
Abiotic factors are non-living physical and chemical factors in an environment that affect ecosystems. Some common factors are wind, light, salinity, water, and more.
Water
Water is one of the main abiotic factors that oil affects. The oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico would contaminate the water. The water would become toxic and animals that lived in the ecosystem would die. When the oil is released into water, it floats on the surface. It spreads out into a thin layer across the surface called a slick. Over time, it thins even more called a sheen which are usually less than 0.01 mm.
Ocean Currents
Since the oil spills in the water, ocean currents can affect it. The force of an ocean currents directs the oil sheen any way depending on the current. The oil can be spread out farther in the ocean or closer to the shoreline. Anyway the oil moves, it would kill the plants and animals in the environment. The oil could destroy living things on the shorelines or far out in the ocean depending on the direction of the ocean current.
Wind
Wind can affect the oil released into the water just like ocean currents. The oil can spread quickly or slowly any way the wind is going. The sheen of oil can break up into different sections and go in completely opposite directions which would destroy even more animals in the environment. The oil would be harder to clean up since it could have gone in all different directions making it harder to find.
Sunlight
Sunlight is used for photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water for food in plants and releasing oxygen. Plants need water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight for the essential process to stay alive. However, when oil floats on the surface of water in a slick or sheen, sunlight is blocked from the plants. The oil can leave a layer of oil directly on the leaves of plants reducing or completely blocking off the sunlight. Without sunlight, the plants will die because they don't have the essentials to complete photosynthesis.
Temperature
Oil can affect the temperature by elevating the ocean temperature. The oil released can form into tar mats and tar balls which is just more amounts of oil compacted. The tar can absorb more sunlight which would make the water temperature rise.