Weathered Crude Oil
Weathered crude or "mousse" is crude petroleum that has lost an appreciable quantity of its more volatile components and has mixed with sea water and organic matter. This is caused by evaporation and other natural causes during the spill landing on the shore and during oily waste handling, storage and treatment or disposal.
Chocolate Mousse
The various types of oil differ in how they weather (chemically or physically change when exposed to the elements). Most crude oil blends will emulsify quickly when spilled, creating a stable mousse that presents a more persistent cleanup and removal challenge.
This image was taken on the side of a spill site where there is a lot of thick surface oil and the use of dispersants is widespread. This particular slick was a combination of "chocolate mousse" which is generated by the oil getting frothed up with seawater when the surface waves pick up.
Even in high winds, usually over 70% of a Fuel Oil No. 6 spill will persist as floating or beached oil for a week or longer. On the other hand, over 90% of the diesel in a small spill in the marine environment is either evaporated or naturally dispersed into the water column in time frames of a couple of hours to a couple of days.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Most crude oil blends will _____, creating a stable mousse that presents a more persistent cleanup and removal challenge.
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