SEVENTEEN-DAY SUMMARY: DECEMBER 15 TO 31, 1976 



Weather 



Conditions 



(Daylight) 



Air: U.S. Coast Guard cutters on station recorded 

 hourly meteorological data. 



Sea: Sea conditions recorded hourly by U.S. Coast 

 Guard cutter. 



Avgo Merchant One of the largest oil spills in American history; 



7% million gallons of oil spilled. 



USCG Unable to save the Argo Merchant despite heroic efforts. 



Operations Water samples collected daily by USCGC's Bittersweet and 

 Vigilant • Forecasting should improve after analysis of 



Argo Merchant data. 



Overflights Visual and infrared mapping of plume. Mammal sightings. 

 Oil and water current measurements. Drift cards dropped 

 as early warning systems. Extensive photographic record. 



NOAA/USCG 

 SOR Team 

 Operations 



Coordination of research activities. Measurements to 

 document the fate of Argo Merchant oil. 



Other Normal wintering whale and porpoise populations 



Operations established. No noticeable reaction to spill. 

 Movies taken by U.S. Navy of morphology of the 

 underside of the slick and bottom. No visible 

 oil. Eleven current meters deployed at 6 moorings. 



Ship 

 Cruises 



During nine cruises, 210 water samples, 34 sediment 

 samples, and 40 intertidal samples obtained. Plankton 

 samples and organisms also collected. No confirmed 

 reports of visible oil. 



Spill 

 Characteristics 



Intense mapping of spill. "Thickening" phenomenon data 

 available for research on oil weathering. Oil transport 

 and dispersion data established. Basis for long-range 

 research program established. 



Coordination 

 Meetings and 

 Briefings 



Research activities coordinated by participating scientists. 



II-2 



