Effects of hydrocarbon spills on the temperature and moisture regimes of Cryosols in the Ross Sea region

Abstract

Hydrocarbon spills have occurred on Antarctic soils where fuel oils are utilized, moved or stored. We investigated the effects of hydrocarbon spills on soil temperature and moisture regimes by comparing the properties of existing oil contaminated sites with those of nearby, uncontaminated, control sites at Scott Base, the old Marble Point camp, and Bull Pass in the Wright Valley. Hydrocarbon levels were elevated in fuel-contaminated samples. Climate stations were installed at all three locations in both contaminated and control sites. In summer at Scott Base and Marble Point the mean weekly maximum near surface (2 cm and 5 cm depth) soil temperatures were warmer (P < 0.05), sometimes by more than 10°C, at the contaminated site than the control sites. At Bull Pass there were no statistically significant differences in near-surface soil temperatures between contaminated and control soils. At the Scott Base and Marble Point sites soil albedo was lower, and hydrophobicity was higher, in the contaminated soils than the controls. The higher temperatures at the Scott Base and Marble Point hydrocarbon contaminated sites are attributed to the decreased surface albedo due to soil surface darkening by hydrocarbons. There were no noteworthy differences in moisture retention between contaminated and control sites.

Free-Living Heterotrophic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Isolated from Fuel-Contaminated Antarctic Soils

“…2, line graph) and minima of Ն4°C, whereas the psychrotolerant pseudomonads had optima of 30°C and minima of Ͻ4°C. Significantly, all isolates could grow at 10°C, well within the upper summer temperatures of the Antarctic source soils (Ն18°C [3]). …”

On-site and in situ remediation technologies applicable to petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic

“…Second, natural freezeÁthaw processes can instigate effective soil displacement, altering the movement of petroleum hydrocarbons in areas of freezing ground (Balks et al 2002;Filler et al 2006;Curtosi et al 2007;Siciliano et al 2008). Soil displacement can enhance the commonly uneven distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons, associated with the history of contamination and preferential contaminant sorption to soil constituents, potentially reducing contact between petroleum hydrocarbons and microorganisms (Harms & Wick 2006).…”

“…Detailed descriptions on the impact of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination on natural thermal and moisture regimes, soil pH and nutrient activity in cold regions are reported elsewhere (Atlas 1981;Grechishchev et al 2001;Balks et al 2002;Filler et al 2006).…”

Characterization of Environmental Samples around an Indigenous Refinery in Nigeria

“…The lower moisture content observed in the soil samples compared to that of the sludge is attributed to the presence of total petroleum and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which a study has reported causes an increase in soil hydrophobicity which would lead to a reduced moisture holding capacity [30]. Such contaminants trigger the release of carbon dioxide from the soil which in time would later affect the pH.…”