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

Emergency Response

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Thickness

Photo examples of oil at various thickness. [Part of the Shoreline Assessment Job Aid.]

Click on an image below to see the full image.

PO. Pooled Oil (08.25.04, unknown) Fresh oil or mousse more than 1 centimeter thick	CV. Cover (08.25.04, unknown) Oil or mousse more than 0.1 and less than 1 centimeter thick	CT. Coat (08.25.04, unknown) Visible coating of oil less than 0.1 centimeter thick; can be scraped off with fingernail
ST. Stain (08.25.04, unknown) Visible oil that cannot be scraped off with fingernail	FL. Film (08.25.04, unknown) Transparent or iridescent sheen or oily film

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.