Click on figures for larger images. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 1. Surface residual balls.](thumbnails/genuine_srbs.jpg) |
Figure 1. Sand and oil agglomerates, also known as surface residual balls, recovered in November 2011 along the Mississippi coast. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 2. Map.](thumbnails/OSAT_srb_study_site.jpg) |
Figure 2. A, Map showing the Gulf of Mexico with B, the location of the artificial sand and oil agglomerate field deployment indicated. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 3. Water bath for artificial sand and oil agglomerate creation.](thumbnails/water_bath_setup.jpg) |
Figure 3. Hot water bath used for artificial sand and oil agglomerate creation. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 4. Creation of artificial sand and oil agglomerates.](thumbnails/srb_creation.jpg) |
Figure 4. Manual shaping of artificial sand and oil agglomerates. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 5. Determination of artificial sand and oil agglomerate density using Archimedes principal.](thumbnails/archimedes.jpg) |
Figure 5. Determination of artificial sand and oil agglomerate density. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 6. Size classification of round and ellipsoidal artificial sand and oil agglomerates.](thumbnails/srb_size.jpg) |
Figure 6. Size classification of artificial sand and oil agglomerates. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 7. Tripod configuration showing the ATRIS system, pressure gauge, and GoPro cameras.](thumbnails/tripod_visual.jpg) |
Figure 7. Instrumented tripod deployed in approximately 1.5-meter water depth. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 8. Shallow water deployment of artificial sand and oil agglomerates.](thumbnails/shallow_deploy.jpg) |
Figure 8. Shallow water deployment of artificial sand and oil agglomerates. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 9. Swash zone deployment of artificial sand and oil agglomerates.](thumbnails/swash_deploy.jpg) |
Figure 9. Swash zone deployment of artificial sand and oil agglomerates. |
![Thumbnail image for Figure 10, image of artificial sand and oil agglomerates before and after image processing.](thumbnails/image_process.jpg) |
Figure 10. A, raw image taken with the Along-Track Reef Imaging System camera of one ellipsoid artificial sand and oil agglomerate of each of the five size classes; B, the same image, processed to increase the contrast and visibility by expanding over the range of intensities in the image. |