Laboratory Observations of Artificial Sand and Oil Agglomerates: Video and Velocity Data: Sea Floor Interaction Experiment Preview Video (GoPro)

Weathered oil in the surf-zone after an oil spill may mix with suspended sediments to form sand and oil agglomerates (SOA). Sand and oil agglomerates may form in mats on the scale of tens of meters (m), and may break apart into pieces between 1 and 10 centimeters (cm) in diameter. These more mobile pieces are susceptible to alongshore and cross-shore transport, and lead to beach re-oiling on the time scale of months to years following a spill. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted experiments March 10 - 13, 2014, to expand the available data on sand and oil agglomerate motion; test shear stress based incipient motion parameterizations in a controlled, laboratory setting; and directly observe SOA exhumation and burial processes. Artificial sand and oil agglomerates (aSOA) were created and deployed in a small-oscillatory flow tunnel in two sets of experiments, during which, video and velocity data were obtained. The first experiment, which was set up to help researchers investigate incipient motion, used with an immobile, rough bottom (referred to as false-floor) and the second–testing seafloor interactions–utilized with a coarse grain sand bottom (movable sand bed). Detailed information regarding the creation of the aSOA can be found in Dalyander et al. (2015). More information about the USGS laboratory experiment conducted in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory can be found in the associated Open File Report (OFR Number Unknown).

溢油事件后，冲浪带（surf-zone）内的风化原油可与悬浮沉积物混合，形成砂油团聚体（sand and oil agglomerates，SOA）。砂油团聚体可形成数十米级的席状聚集体，随后碎裂为直径1至10厘米（cm）的碎块。这类活动性更强的碎块易受沿岸流与跨岸流输运作用，进而在溢事后数月至数年的时间尺度内引发海滩复油污染。
美国地质调查局（U.S. Geological Survey，USGS）于2014年3月10日至13日开展了一系列实验，旨在扩充砂油团聚体运动的现有数据集、在可控实验室环境中验证基于剪切应力的启动物运动参数化方案，并直接观测砂油团聚体的出露与埋藏过程。
研究团队通过两组实验，在小型振荡流隧道中制备并投放了人工砂油团聚体（artificial sand and oil agglomerates，aSOA），实验期间同步采集了视频与流速数据。第一组实验设置了固定粗糙床底（下称假底，false-floor），用于辅助研究者开展启动物运动相关研究；第二组实验则采用粗颗粒砂质床底（可动砂床，movable sand bed），以测试海底相互作用过程。
关于人工砂油团聚体制备的详细细节，可参见Dalyander等人（2015）的研究成果。本次实验为美国地质调查局与海军研究实验室（Naval Research Laboratory）合作开展的实验室研究，更多相关信息可查阅关联公开文件报告（Open File Report，OFR，编号未知）。