PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATION IN THE DRY TORTUGAS

The eastern edge of the Gulf Loop Current flows southward along the west Florida continental shelf until it reaches the Dry Tortugas, where it curves 90 degree and flows towards the east along the southern edge of the Florida Keys. As the Loop Current exist from the Gulf is squeezed together and high concentrations of tar come in close proximity to the coastline. The present study extends previous work westward to the point where Florida Keys island chain intersects the Gulf Loop Current. Since the Dry Tortugas are located in this unusual area, they provide an ideal location for examining the fate of petroleum discharged into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.