Visual Appearance of Oil on the Sea

The visual appearance of oil spills at sea is often used as an indicator spilled properties, state and slick thickness. These appearances the properties that are associated with them reviewed in this paper. estimator thickness thin slicks, thinner than a rainbow sheen (<3 µm). Rainbow sheens have strong physical explanation. Thicker slicks (e.g., >3 µm) not correlated given appearance. At one time, surface discharges from ships was thought to be discharge rate vessel speed; however, approach now known incorrect. Oil on can sometimes form water-in-oil emulsions, dependent oil, these reddish color. detected visually, providing useful information oil. Oil-in-water emulsions seen coffee-colored cloud below water surface. Other gleaned includes coverage distribution