Natural oil seeps in the Alaskan marine environment. Final report

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7027213

Becker, P R; Manen, C A

This report is a synthesis of information on the marine and coastal oil seeps in Alaska, and on the effects of chronic oil pollution on Arctic marine biotic communities and ecological processes. Of 29 oil seepage areas reported along the Alaskan coast, 14 have been confirmed as containing actual oil seeps. Large areas of coastal seepage have been identified in the central Gulf of Alaska and Arctic regions. When compared to known seepage rates on the California coast, the amount of oil entering the Alaska marine environment from known coastal seeps is probably rather small. Also, the organic enrichment of the benthic communities demonstrated at California seeps might not be as evident at Arctic seeps because of slower rate of oil degradation in the latter. Additional hypotheses on the effects of natural seeps on biological communities and ecosystems are discussed.

• Research Organization: National Ocean Service, Anchorage, AK (USA). Ocean Assessments Div.
• OSTI ID: 7027213
• Report Number(s): PB-88-235965/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALASKA
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARCTIC REGIONS
BENTHOS
COASTAL WATERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION X
GULF OF ALASKA
MAPS
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC OCEAN
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
PROGRESS REPORT
SEAS
SEEPS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION