Hydrocarbons: natural distribution and dynamics on the Alaskan outer continental shelf

Journal Article · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1977 · Contaminant Baselines; (United States)

OSTI ID:6059515

Shaw, D G

Results of hydrocarbon analyses of biota, water, sediment and seston are reported and discussed. In general these analyses show that the Alaskan OCS environments are free of petroleum at the present time. Petrogenic hydrocarbons were detected in intertidal sediments of the Beaufort Sea. It is not yet known to what extent, if at all, anthropogenic sources contribute to these hydrocarbons. Efforts to understand and quantify processes by which hydrocarbons in the water column are transported to the benthic environment are described. The two such processes investigated are the association of hydrocarbons and suspended sediments and the scavenging and sedimenting of hydrocarbon droplets by zooplankton. It appears that at least for the conditions of south central Alaska the formet process is not highly efficient. Results about the latter process is not highly effecient. Results about the latter process are not yet available. Brief descriptions of recently begun site specific studies are presented.

• Research Organization: Alaska Univ., College
• OSTI ID: 6059515
• Journal Information: Contaminant Baselines; (United States), Journal Name: Contaminant Baselines; (United States) Vol. 13
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALASKA
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DISTRIBUTION
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
POLLUTION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
SEAWATER
SEDIMENTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION