PAH Contamination Analysis at McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Soil samples from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, reveal total PAH concentrations ranging from 664 to 74,267 nanograms per gram dry weight. The data, produced by SCIOPS, compares contamination levels from 1999 and 2001 at specific sites like fueling stations and helipads. Analysis of molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions was used to discern the origins and 'freshness' of hydrocarbon spills.

Use Cases

• Correlate total PAH concentration with specific site activities like fuel storage or heavy traffic areas.
• Analyze temporal trends in PAH levels by comparing measurements from 1999 and 2001 sampling events.
• Use alkylnaphthalenes to total PAH ratios to assess the relative 'freshness' or recency of hydrocarbon spills.
• Compare contamination profiles between different known source sites such as fueling stations, old oil tanks, helipads, and machine shops.

Strengths

• Concentration data spans a wide range from 664 to 74,267 ng g-1, indicating varied contamination levels.
• Provides temporal comparison with measurements from two distinct years (1999 and 2001).
• Analysis includes specific molecular indicators like alkylnaphthalene ratios to infer spill recency.

Limitations

• The exact sample size (number of rows) is not specified in the provided description.
• Data is geographically limited to the immediate vicinity of McMurdo Station.
• The dataset is temporally stale, with the last update recorded in 2001.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS, accessed via NASA EarthData.

Collection Method

Molecular and stable carbon isotopic analysis of soil samples collected from specified sites.

Time Range

1999 to 2001

Freshness

Data collection concluded in 2001; no update frequency is indicated.

Geography

McMurdo Station, Antarctica