Crisis science: investigations in response to the Argo Merchant oil spill. Sea grant report
The Argo Merchant oil spill on Nantucket Shoals (Massachusetts) in December 1976, was the focus of a massive scientific investigation. More than 200 scientists were involved in predicting and studying the fate and effects of the spill, at a cost exceeding $800,000. The report outlines three reasons scientists might want to take action following a spill and points out that previous post-spill activities have been somewhat less than successful in meeting these goals. The scientific work following the Argo Merchant spill is then reviewed as a case study of such post-spill science. The story of how the scientific response developed is told more or less chronologically and the scientific quality of the various endeavors evaluated.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Ralph M. Parsons Lab. for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics
- OSTI ID:
- 6312792
- Report Number(s):
- PB-285646
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COASTAL WATERS
CONTAINMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
MASSACHUSETTS
NORTH ATLANTIC REGION
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS