Results of the Coast Guard's Tarball Sampling Program.

• Main Authors: Anderson,Carl K, Shuhy,J L
• Other Authors: COAST GUARD WASHINGTON D C OCEANOGRAPHIC UNIT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1979
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Miscellaneous Materials; Water Pollution and Control; *WATER POLLUTION; *OCEANS; *TAR; TEST METHODS; WATER QUALITY; NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN; COAST GUARD RESEARCH; TOWED BODIES; MEXICO GULF; OCEANOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT; BERING SEA; Bering Sea; Gulf of Alaska; Pacific; Labrador Sea; North Atlantic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA079584; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA079584

The U.S. Coast Guard has been conducting a tarball sampling program since December 1971 and to date over 1000 tows have been made. These tows have been made in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Labrador Sea, Gulf of Mexico, North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. In general, low tar concentrations are found in the polar area, the average concentration being less than 0.03 mg/ sq. m., and can probably be attributed to the small number of natural seeps and limited amount of man's activities in these areas. High average concentrations (greater than 1.65 mg/ sq. m.) were found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico where man's activities in the form of both drilling and shipping are greater. (Author)