a geochemist’s view on the ww ii wrecks

Chris ReddyDepartment of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Japanese tanker, the Hoyo Maru sank in 1944. It could carry up to two million gallons of oil.

National Geographic

MICHAEL BARRETT

SourSour

Initial cargofrom Hoyo Maru

≠

Surface slick

Surface slickfrom Hoyo Maru

normalalkanes

branchedalkanes

cycloalkanes

nitrogen,sulfur, andoxygen

Gasoline

Kerosene

Diesel

Heavy gas oil

LubricatingResiduum

Boiling point °C

020 40 60 80 100

100

80

60

40

20

100 200 300 400 500 600

s

napthenoaromaticsaromatics

Percentageof moleculartypes

67%33%

What happens if there is a massive release?

What comprises the oil? (they are few aromatics)

Where did the Hoyo Maru oil come from?

Ts

Tm

29H

H

O 31HH

32HH

M29M28H (S)

(R) (S)

(R)

Hoyo Maru

Central Sumatra Basin

(Camilli and Duryea, 2009)

TETHYS: an in-situ mass spectrometer optimized for detection of low molecular weight gases and volatile organics (chemical sniffer!)

SENTRY AUV

1. Treat oil as a group of compounds that can provide invaluable insights into the source, behavior, and response to spills.

2. New technology in the pipeline that may aid in monitoring and assessment.