Probable Effects of Langmuir Circulation Observed on Oil Slicks in the Field

The effects of Langmuir circulation (LC) cells on a surface slick were examined through analysis of field data on oil slicks. Data from three experimental spills in the North Sea were evaluated. LC cells were present in the data but their occurrence was primarily within the thin portions of the slicks that are of only minor interest from an oil spill contingency point of view. The formation of convergent zones in LC cells close to the sea surface may serve as an area of trapping for both dispersed oil droplets as well as plankton.