Nearshore Transport of Hydrocarbons and Sediments Following the EXXON VALDEZ OilSpill. Subtidal Study Number 3B. EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill State/Federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment Final Report

摘要

Following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, sediment traps were deployed in nearshoresubtidal areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska (PWS) to monitor particulate chemistry and mineralogy. Complemented by benthic sediment chemistry and core sample stratigraphy at the study sites, results were compared to historical trends and data from other Exxon Valdez studies. These results clearly indicate the transport of oil-laden sediments from oiled shorelines to adjacent subtidal sediments. The composition of hydrocarbons adsorbed to settling particulates at sites adjacent to oiled shorelines matched the PAH pattern of weathered Exxon Valdez crude oil.