Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type | response.restoration.noaa.gov

Surface Oiling Descriptors - Type

AP - Asphalt Pavements

Cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments. An example of asphalt pavement is seen here as a thick black deposit on a beach face.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

SR - Surface Oil Residue

Non-cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments, characterized as soft incipient asphalt pavements.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

TC - Tar

Highly weathered oil of nearly solid consistency. Here is an example of tar on a sand beach.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

PT - Patties

Discrete accumulations of oil more than 10 centimeters in diameter. Here is a single black patty on a sand beach.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

TB - Tarballs

Discrete accumulations of oil less than 10 centimeters in diameter. Shown are tarballs scattered on a sand beach.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

MS - Mousse

Emulsified oil. An example of mousse is seen here as orange-brown oil coating cobbles.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

FR - Fresh Oil

Unweathered, liquid oil.

Credit: Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel of Research Planning, Inc.

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