Transport and fingerprinting of tar balls deposited along the west coast of India

Abstract

quotAbstract newlineTar balls are oil residues. After an oil spill in the sea, due to weathering processes, newlineapproximately half of the oil disperses within 24 h. Subsequently, depending on sea newlinestate, water-in-oil emulsion (mousse) forms. Wind causes the suspended matter to get newlineadsorb onto the surface of the emulsion. Winds, waves, and turbulence at sea surface newlinecause the emulsion to break into smaller pieces, which eventually become tar balls. newlineOceanic convergence plays a major role in the formation of tar balls since the newlineconvergence zones trap the floating organic and inorganic objects, which act as nuclei newlinearound the oil slicks/emulsions. The deposition of tar balls on the beach is newlineproportional to the quantity of oil spilled in the sea through different sources. The newlinesources of spills are offshore oil exploration, oil tanker accidents, oil-well blowouts, newlineaccidental and deliberate release of bilge, river run-off and discharges through newlinemunicipal sewage and industrial effluents.quot newline newline