Proceeding of the Workshop on the Sea-Surface Microlayer in Relation to Ocean Disposal. Held in Airlie, Virginia on December 18-19, 1985

摘要

A workshop was convened to identify information needs concerning the sea-surface microlayer (SSM) that would assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the ocean disposal regulatory process. Twenty-two participants from a wide diversity of disciplines, including technical experts on the sea-surface microlayer, identified and ranked over 30 relevant information needs. Top priority was given to determining: (1) residence times for components in the SSM and their alteration by inputs from disposal, (2) the importance of the SSM as a biological habitat, and (3) the toxicity of disposal wastes applied in a realistic way to the SSM. A research and monitoring plan based on a decision-tree and containing short- and long-term tasks was outlined. The first step involves sampling and analysis of the SSM during research ocean disposal activities. Measured SSM contaminant concentrations would then be compared with data on toxicity to surface organisms such as neustonic (floating) fish eggs.