Oil Descriptor Form

Oil Descriptor Form
Beach Number:

Date: _____ /_____ /_____

Page: ________ of ________

Oil/Tarball Information
# Oil/Tarballs Found - Refers to Entire Beach _____________
# Oil/Tarballs Collected (collect 3 max.) _____________
Size Range of Oil/Tarballs Found ______ cm (min) - _____cm (max)
# Oiled Dead Specimen Samples Collected ____________
Estimate total percentage* of entire beach survey area (up to the dune vegetation or cliff face) covered or contaminated with oil or
tarballs ____________ %.

Oil Band Description – Refers to Total Bands on Entire Beach Survey Area
Describe the band(s) or strip of oil – check one

□
□
□
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H
M
L
V

Heavy: > 3 meters wide continuous band
Medium: >1 meter to < 3 meters continuous or broken band
Light: > 0.5 meters to < 1 meter of any type; multiple oil swash line
Very Light: Sporadic tarballs

Maximum Width of ALL Oil Bands combined
Maximum Length of ALL Oil Bands combined

_________________
_________________

(meters)
(meters)

□ Check Box if Multiple Bands present
Oil Descriptors*– Refers to Entire Beach Survey Area
Percent Covered* – check one

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□
□
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C
B
P
S
T

Continuous: 91 - 100%
Broken: 51 - 90%
Patchy: 11 - 50%
Sporadic: ≥1 - 10%
Trace: <1%

Thickness* – check as many as apply

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□
□
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PO
CV
CT
SL
FL

Thick or pooled Oil (thick oil, fresh oil or mousse > 1 cm thick)
Cover (oil or mousse from > 0.1 cm to < 1 cm on any surface)
Coat (visible oil < 0.1 cm which can be scrapped off with fingernail)
Stain (visible oil, which cannot be scrapped of with fingernail)
Film (transparent or iridescent sheen or oily film)

Type and Size* – check as many as apply

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□
□
□
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FR
MS
TB
PT
TC
AP

Fresh oil (non-weathered, liquid oil)
Mousse (emulsified oil occurring over broad areas)
Tarballs (discrete accumulations of oil < 10 cm in diameter)
Patties (discrete accumulations of oil > 10 cm in diameter, small oiled surface sediments/sand balls)
Tar (highly weathered oil, of tarry, nearly solid consistency
Asphalt Pavements (cohesive, heavily oiled surface sediments)

Photographs –Record the photos on your photo documentation log. Check boxes below when completed:

□ Tarball w/photoscale 0.5 meters away □ 5 meters away □ 10 meters away □ Check box when using GPS camera
*Refer to NOAA Shoreline Assessment Job Aid for more information, descriptions and sample photographs of Surface Oiling Descriptors

Please call 415-987-0412 ASAP to report any tarballs and/or oil

Revised 9/17/19

Surface Oil Percent Cover Estimation
These charts are aids to help you estimate the percent oil coverage in the area you are observing. The black shading
represents oil. Do not spend time trying to get a precise measure of percent cover; the four ranges, in the first line of
drawings, are usually sufficient. Use the second line of drawings when oil bands are present. The third set of drawings is
best for describing discrete oil deposits such as tarballs.

1.

2.

3.

*Source: NOAA Shoreline Assessment Job Aid for more information, descriptions and sample photographs of
Surface Oiling Descriptors by Type and Thickness:
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/resources/shoreline-assessment-job-aid.html
See Beach Watch Portal/Volunteer Resources for more information.

Please call 415-987-0412 ASAP to report any tarballs and/or oil.

Revised 9/17/19