Physical properties that govern the control of oil spills in the marine environment by passive means

The control of oil spills in the marine environment generally includes two major possibilities: the use of active means, the aim of which is to remove the hazardous substance as quickly and as completely as possible from the marine environment, as well as the use of passive means, the aim of which is to control the oil with the substance remaining in the marine environment. This paper will deal with some physical boundary conditions which have to be regarded when using passive means at sea. In particular the characteristics of booms and barriers will be briefly discussed as well as the physical differences and the typical ways of application addressed. The paper will then concentrate on mechanical booms and discuss some of the physical properties that govern the behaviour of oil in front of a boom, show the limits of containment, and will give some aspects on the application of booms at sea. Finally the influence of waves on booms will briefly be addressed and the use of sorbent booms at sea considered.