Summary
There is a common perception that terrestrial fuel spills in Antarctica are long lived and that plumes naturally degrade very slowly. However, previous studies have isolated hydrocarbon degrading microbes from many Antarctic soils and biodegradation has been documented at low temperatures in the laboratory. A detailed study of an old fuel spill at Casey Station, Antarctica, indicates that fuel has migrated down a small catchment into the marine environment. By integrating chemical signatures indicative of evaporation and biodegradation with environmental parameters it is possible to correlate natural attenuation and dispersal of the spill within the catchment. GIS terrain modelling techniques are used to explore the spatial patterns of biodegradation and evaporation in relation to slope, solar radiation, surface wetness, and landform properties.