Abstract
ABSTRACT The authors carried out a series of four beach surveys during a 3-year, 8-month period along 200 kilometers of coastline on the western Arabian to monitor effects of the Gulf War oil spill. The surveys were basically qualitative, but semiquantitative information was collected at 44 sites during the last three surveys. Assessments were based on a scheme that classified the impact level at the 44 sites into four hierarchical categories. The last three surveys were compared to demonstrate any improvement between surveys as well as to document the general prevailing conditions regarding bio- or mechanical degradation, persistence, and mobilization of the oil. The source of the oil was verified through laboratory analysis. The oil apparently became highly mobile during the hot summer months 15 months after the spill, and the levels of contamination were redistributed at the 44 selected sites. The trend during the overall study was toward improving conditions. The areas most impacted remain the low-energy back bays and the low-relief salt marsh habitats. The team members concluded that allowing natural degradation was effective in this remote coastal area. A pilot study is under way to determine the effectiveness of controlled breakup of the hard oil crusts that persist at some back bay locations.
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