A STUDY OF THE BEHAVIOR OF OIL SPILLS IN THE ARCTIC

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 absorption 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. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  United States Coast Guard

  Applied Technology Division
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Glaeser, John L
  • Vance, George P
• Publication Date: 1971-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 62 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills
• Geographic Terms: Arctic Regions
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil ice interaction; Oil removal; Oil spill behavior
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00015336
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 13 1973 12:00AM