Variability in the optical properties of a crude oil - seawater emulsion

The paper analyses the optical properties of a crude oil –sea water emulsion, which is a form of petroleum pollution of the sea. These properties depend on the spillage concentration, the optical characteristics of the seawater and oil in question, and on the size distribution of the oil droplets. They may be described by the attenuation specific cross-sections and absorption specific cross-sections. Specific cross-sections and other optical parameters for droplets of a Baltic crude oil –Bal tic seawater emulsion were calculated using Mie’s solution. These characteristics were computed for fresh and weathered petroleum.