Name: Roger W. D.
Status: Other
Age: 50s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: August 2004
Question:
When oil is spilled on the ocean or any large body of
water it tends to spread, at first, to a thin layer over the surface.
My question is;
Are there studies the show the relationship of evaporation between water
with and without oil present?
And how this might relate to humidity and local or globe rainfall.
Replies:
A thin layer floating on top of water can indeed reduce evaporation. Some
products are available for purchase, one of which is based on a fatty
alcohol, which forms a thin layer on water to substantially retard
evaporation. Oil would not be as environmentally friendly. Floating
layers are of limited use in moving water or in the presence of waves,
and the layers may last only a couple of days before they need to be
replenished.
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