A Study of the Behavior of Oil Spills in the Arctic

• Main Authors: Glaeser, John L., Vance, George P.
• Other Authors: COAST GUARD WASHINGTON DC APPLIED TECHNOLOGY DIV
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1971
• Subjects: Water Pollution and Control; *WATER POLLUTION; *OILS; *ARCTIC REGIONS; CONTROL; REMOVAL; AGING(MATERIALS); VISCOSITY; STRAW; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; ICE; ADSORPTION; WIND; COMBUSTION; *CONTROL; *POLLUTION; ABATEMENT; Arctic; Prudhoe Bay; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0717142; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0717142

A program to investigate the behavior of oil spills in the Arctic was conducted off the northern coast of Alaska. Numerous small oil spills were made to obtain data on the following subjects: the spreading behavior of crude oil on ice and water surfaces; the interaction characteristics of crude oil with ice; the aging characteristics of crude oil which has been spilled on ice, on water, and under ice; and the effectiveness of burning and adsorption as methods of removal. Both Prudhoe Bay ('Sag' River) crude oil and diesel fuel were used in the test program. Results quantify spreading and interaction characteristics in addition to presenting qualitative information on each area of interest. Promise is shown for both burning and absorption as methods of oil removal in the summer. Data is presented on both the physical and chemical characteristics of aged crude oil.