Initial Insights Into The Geochemistry of the Surface Sheens Emanating From The USS Arizona
Author(s): Christopher Reddy; Jagos Radovic; Robert Nelson; Glenn Frysinger; Gregory Hall; Richard W Sanders; Scott Pawlowski
Year: 2020
Summary
This is an abstract from the session entitled "Hard Science on Hard Steel: Scientific Studies of the USS Arizona" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.
Surface sheens are an iconic reminder of the ongoing history of the USS Arizona wreckage. Yet, little is known about the sources within the battleship that create the sheen and what is the chemical composition of the sheen and whether it varies.
Our initial results indicate that the oils found within the USS Arizona are geneticaly related. That is, they came from the same source but vary in composition due to changes due to weathering, mainly biodegradation.
During a a three-day sampling effort, we collected 20 surface sheens and found that their composition changed dramatically and points to the complexity of the site. Nevertheless, this is a critical step forward in identifying the major input terms from the vessel to the surface sheen and develop plans to remediate and manage the site in a respectful manner (as well as plan for any future disaster from changes in the ship's intergrity).
Cite this Record
Initial Insights Into The Geochemistry of the Surface Sheens Emanating From The USS Arizona. Christopher Reddy, Jagos Radovic, Robert Nelson, Glenn Frysinger, Gregory Hall, Richard W Sanders, Scott Pawlowski. 2020 ( tDAR id: 457006)
This Resource is Part of the Following Collections
Keywords
General
Oil Spill
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surface sheen
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USS Arizona
Geographic Keywords
United States of America
Temporal Keywords
1941 to the present
Spatial Coverage
min long: -129.199; min lat: 24.495 ; max long: -66.973; max lat: 49.359 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology
Record Identifiers
PaperId(s): 504