Natural dispersion of oil by different sources of turbulence

Abstract

An earlier laboratory investigation by the author led to the acquisition of quantitative data on natural dispersion due to breaking waves, in terms of dispersion rate, droplet size distribution, and intrusion depth of the droplets in the water column. The present paper demonstrates that the relationships derived and empirical data can be applied to other dispersion sources as well. As found with breaking waves, these other dispersion sources must consist of a short-duration plunging process hitting the surface oil parcel. The following dispersion sources which apparently fulfill the requirement are discussed: flow over a dam, a cataract with a hydraulic jump, fast flow around an obstacle, and a ship sailing through an oil slick.