TAR BALL DISTRIBUTION IN THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC

Surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean were quantitatively sampled for floating tar balls from December 1971 to September 1973. It was found that tar ball concentrations (mg/sq m) generally increase from the Labrador Sea at ocean station Bravo (nearly tar ball free) south to the Sargasso Sea at ocean station Echo (greater than 2.6 mg/sq m). This south to north decrease in tar pollution was not only noted for the four ocean station sampling areas, but was also observed along the eastern coast of the United States. Analysis of thirty-five tar ball samples for iron (determined as Fe2O3) indicated high levels of Fe2O3. This implies previous association of the tar balls with iron or steel and suggests that man-made sources are partially responsible for tar ball pollution in addition to natural oil seeps.

• Corporate Authors:

  Coast Guard

  Office of Research and Development
  Washington, DC  United States 

  United States Coast Guard

  Office of Research and Development, 400 7th Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • McGowan, W E
  • Saner, W A
  • Hufford, G L
• Publication Date: 1974-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 29 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Atomic physics; Chemical composition; Iron oxides; Location; Oceans; Oil spills; Petroleum products; Sampling; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Tables (Data); Tar
• Uncontrolled Terms: Building sites
• Geographic Terms: Newfoundland and Labrador; North Atlantic Ocean
• Old TRIS Terms: Atomic spectroscopy; Ocean surface; Sargasso sea
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00090384
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CGR/DC-24/74 Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: May 29 1975 12:00AM