Abstract -- List of tables -- List of figures -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Surface circulation in the Gulf of Mexico -- Summary of results obtained during year 1 -- Sampling strategy for year 2 -- Analytical methods -- Results and conclusions -- Conclusions -- Recommendations -- References -- Appendix I. Gravimetric, isotopic, gas chromatographic and GCMS data for Pelagic tar sammmples collected during year 2 -- Appendix II. Personnel -- Appendix III. List of publications resulting from year 1 of study.

"A two-year study of pelagic tar in the eastern Gulf of Mexico has been conducted ... In general, results obtained during Year 2 confirmed and expanded the findings of Year 1. Surface concentrations of pelagic tar (expressed as the toluene extractable lipid) ranged from 0 to 20.81 mg m⁻₂ during Year 2 ... Pelagic tar found in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is primarily associated with the Gulf Loop Current. The overall two-year average concentration of pelagic tar found off the continental shelf ... was 1.37 mg m⁻₂ while the average on-shelf concentration ... was 0.10 mg m⁻₂. Thus, continental shelf areas around the eastern Gulf of Mexico appear to be quite clean with respect to pelagic tar ... "p.i.

National Ocean Service (NOS)

Funding: Supported by the Florida Dept. of Natural Resources; contract number: 34014;
Funding: Supported by the Coastal Energy Impact Program, which is administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through the Florida Dept. of Community Affairs; grant number: 82-CE-CW-13-00-05-001;