C₁-C₄ hydrocarbons in the North and South Pacific¹

Low molecular weight hydrocarbons in the surface waters of the North and South Pacific have been measured. Methane concentrations average 4.2 ×10?5 ml/1, while the C2-C4 hydrocarbons averaged 1–5 ×10-6 ml/l. A large broad peak was found between 10° N and 10° S for the unsaturated hydrocarbons. Large concentrations of the C1-C4 hydrocarbons were found in the different types of Antarctic sea ice. Atmospheric methane concentrations averaged 1.44 ± 0.04 ppm and decreased to 1.36 ± 0.04 ppm at the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITC).DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1974.tb01953.x