Oil Spill Identification and Remote Sensing

Improved identification of spilled oils by infrared spectroscopy.

“…6 oil has all peaks within the 0-5% range (originally two outliers); the No. 4 oil improves from 15 to 17 in the 0-5% range; the No. 2 goes from 9 to 12 in the 0-10% range; and the crude improves from 9 to 15 within the 0-10% range.…”

“…The accuracy of this identification was particularly striking since one of the possible sources was a No. 4 fuel oil comprising a similar mixture of No. 6 and No.…”

“…Reviews by Brown (2) and Bentz (3,4) traced the evolution of the use of infrared techniques to identify oils that have been weathered by comparing them with likely sources. Numerous weathering studies, including major efforts by Frankenfeld (5) and Brown (6), served to provide detailed information as to the effects of weathering on infrared spectra.…”