NOAA's Ocean Service Office of Response and Restoration | Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type

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Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type

Photo examples of various types of surface oiling. [Part of the Shoreline Assessment Job Aid.]

Click on an image below to see the full image.

FR. Fresh Oil (08.25.04, unknown) Unweathered, liquid oil	MS. Mousse (08.25.04, unknown) Emulsified oil	TB. Tarballs (08.25.04, unknown) Discrete accumulations of oil less than 10 centimeters in diameter
PT. Patties (08.25.04, unknown) Discrete accumulations of oil more than 10 centimeters in diameter	TC. Tar (08.25.04, unknown) Highly weathered oil of nearly solid consistency	SR. Surface Oil Residue (08.25.04, unknown) Non-cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments, characterized as soft incipient asphalt pavements
AP. Asphalt Pavement (08.25.04, unknown) Cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments

Related Pages on Our Site

Shoreline Assessment Job Aid A supplement to the Shoreline Assessment Manual, containing visual examples of many of the terms you would use during shoreline assessments after an oil spill.