On the Residence Time of Oil Mixed Into the Water Column by Breaking Waves

The main purpose of this paper is to present experimental results on the mixing of oil into the water column by breaking waves. During sea states characterized by frequent breaking it is believed that the breaking waves play a dominant role in the natural dispersion of an oil slick. When a breaking wave hits an oil slick, it will cause a mixing of oil into the water column. Because of buoyant effects, the oil particles tend to rise toward the surface again. This leads to a short-term balance between mixing and rising that is determined largely by the characteristic residence times of the oil particles in the water column.